Nepal rescuers reach remote areas in search of thousands missing nearly a week after devastating floods - Reuters

**Nepal’s Search-and‑Rescue Teams Push Into Isolated Villages After Flood Catastrophe**

A week after unprecedented flash floods swept through Nepal’s western and central hills, rescuers are finally reaching villages that have been cut off for days. The deluge, triggered by record‑breaking monsoon rains, devastated districts such as Achham, Doti, and Bajura, wiping out entire road networks and displacing more than 200,000 people. Official counts list at least 150 deaths, while the government estimates that **thousands remain missing** as families await word on loved ones trapped by landslides and swollen rivers.

The Nepalese Army, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, and international partners—including the Red Cross and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs—have deployed helicopters, all‑terrain vehicles, and foot patrols to navigate the rubble. In the past 48 hours, teams have penetrated previously inaccessible valleys, rescuing survivors from collapsed homes and delivering food, medical supplies, and temporary shelter. Local volunteers, many of whom lost homes themselves, are guiding the crews through makeshift pathways, underscoring a community‑driven effort amid the logistical nightmare of destroyed bridges and blocked highways.

Beyond the immediate humanitarian response, the floods have reignited Nepal’s push for **climate justice**. Environment Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel urged the cabinet to prioritize climate‑related compensation, accusing India, the United States and China of bearing responsibility for the “global emissions that fuel extreme weather.” Nepal’s leadership is also calling for an international fund to support reconstruction and adaptation projects, arguing that aid alone cannot address the systemic risks posed by a warming climate. As rescue operations continue, the nation’s focus is shifting from emergency relief to long‑term resilience, demanding both regional cooperation and global accountability.

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