The earthquake was one of the biggest natural disasters to have hit Nepal
As Nepal grapples with one of the biggest natural disasters to have hit to country, the focus has now shifted towards rehabilitating those who have survived after the devastating earthquake of April 25. Foreign aid agencies are worried that red tape and bureaucracy are delaying relief work.
Here are the 10 big developments in this story:
More than 7200 people have died in the April 25 earthquake, the worst crisis to have hit the Himalayan nation in eight decades. Over 14,000 people are injured. The number is expected to go up as relief work continues and more bodies are removed from the rubble.
The biggest challenge for Nepal continues to be disbursal of relief. In distant, remote villages that have been flattened after the quake, the aerial route is the only way to take relief materials to people, but it is dependent on weather conditions.
International aid agencies are worried that relief material pouring in from across the world is getting stuck awaiting customs clearance at the airport. But authorities in Nepal say they do need to conduct a check on materials coming in before they can be distributed. The worry though is that the process is taking too long leading to delays.
A 101-year-old man was rescued from under the rubble in Nuwakot district on Saturday, a week after the 7.9 magnitude quake shook Nepal. He has suffered minor injuries but is expected to make a full recovery.
Three more people were rescued alive in Sindhupal Chowk, one of the worst hit areas where the death toll is already in the thousands.
Civil aviation authorities in Nepal are being cautious and have said big aircraft will not be allowed to land at the runway to avoid any damage to the tarmac that has already seen unprecedented traffic over the last week.
Drinking water and sanitation is a big area of focus. Since many people are living out in the open in relief camps, the Health department has advised people to take care of their hygiene and sanitation to avoid any health problems.
Awareness posters have also been put up listing out the dos and don'ts.
Up to a 1000 foreigners are reported missing. Authorities say many of these people do not keep their embassies in the loop on their travel plans given the easy visa regime in Nepal.
As relief and rescue reaches remote parts, more bodies of trekkers were removed from the rubble. The body of the only Israeli national unaccounted for was found in the Langtang area where 22-year-old Assaraf was trekking.
Post a comment