Children

As of mid-December, authorities reported 643 deaths and 183 people still missing. More than 107,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, making shelter one of the most urgent needs.

As the government prepares to publish more detailed data and possibly a national action plan, child rights activists are urging stakeholders to prioritise transparency, victim support and preventative outreach – especially in vulnerable communities where children remain at greatest risk.

Nepal’s efforts are guided by the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act of 2007, which imposes up to 20 years’ imprisonment for offenders.

With humanitarian funding dwindling, critical supplementary feeding programmes risk being scaled back or halted altogether.

Despite the obstacles, Pakistan has shown significant reductions in reported polio cases in recent years, though sporadic outbreaks serve as stark reminders of how tenuous progress can be.

Many experts emphasise the need for conditional cash transfer programmes, improved rural schooling, transportation support for students, and vocational training initiatives to ensure that families are not forced to choose between survival and education.

The evidence from the study is unequivocal, researchers point out: air pollution is a direct threat to children’s intellectual growth, disproportionately affecting the vulnerable.

WHO plans to update the recommendations as new evidence emerges and will work with partners in 2026 to ensure that those with the most urgent needs are prioritised.