Millions of children in South Asia are facing a looming health crisis as monsoonal rains have left many stranded by floodwaters and in urgent need of fresh water, food and shelter, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said.

India, Bangladesh and Nepal have been hit by some of the worst monsoonal floodings, and in the past week some 30 million people have been affected, mostly women and children, UNICEF said in a statement.
""Entire villages are days from a health crisis if people are not reached in the coming days,"" said Dr Marzio Babille, UNICEF's health chief in India.
""Stagnant waters left by the floods are a lethal breeding ground for diarrhea and waterborne diseases at potential epidemic level,"" he said.
He added that children, who make up 40 percent of South Asia's population, are particularly susceptible to public health threats such as malaria, leptospirosis and dengue fever.
According to UNICEF, ongoing relief operations in South Asia have been hampered by difficulties in reaching remote communities and villages, most are accessible only by boat or through air drops.
Thousands of homes, school, hospitals have been either damaged or lost -- as have roads and vital infrastructure.
Water sources in the affected areas are either contaminated or still submerged and people are relying on drinking dirty surface water to meet their basic needs.
Source: Xinhu