UNICEF has warned that 16 million children are "in urgent need of life-saving support" after catastrophic flooding that has hit Bangladesh, India and Nepal. Up to a third of Bangladesh is under water. Around 45 million people have been badly affected. UNICEF said the floods have swept away the lives, homes, schools and loved ones of millions of children. It said the worst could still be to come as it rains more and the floods move south.
UNICEF said it was on the ground working with governments. It is increasing its responses to respond to the immediate needs of children and families. It said because of "massive damage to schools," hundreds of thousands of children may miss months of school. UNICEF said children must get back to school to establish, "a sense of stability for children during times of crisis and…a sense of normality when everything else is being turned upside down".