Families hit by Nepal's recent earthquakes risk losing their babies to hunger and disease over the next year unless they receive long-term help to boost their incomes and rebuild their homes, experts said.

United Nations food security expert Jeffrey Marzilli said he feared a huge toll of "deaths from economic deprivation" after the Nepal earthquakes, which killed about 8,800 people in April and May.

Aid agencies and governments must provide sustained support, he said, citing research in the Philippines that found a spike in the number of babies who die up to two years after a typhoon because families divert money from paying for health care and food, to restoring their homes and livelihoods.