Nepal flood victims need urgent aid, UN says

KATHMANDU, Sep 2 (Reuters) Thousands of flood victims in Nepal need urgent humanitarian assistance and protection from outbreaks of disease, according to a United Nations envoy.

At least 50 people were killed last week in flash floods and landslides triggered by monsoon rains in western Nepal.

Thousands of displaced people are being housed in schools or temporary camps.

''People urgently need basic shelter, food, clothes, water and medicines,'' UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Nepal Matthew Kahane said in a statement issued late yesterday.

He urged officials to step up monitoring for the outbreak of diseases such as diarrhoea, typhoid, viral hepatitis and malaria.

At least 1,500 flood victims are ill, mainly in the western plains of Nepal, domestic media reports said.

Monsoon rains have claimed hundreds of lives and caused extensive damage to property in South Asia, particularly India.

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