In a remote hilly region of western Nepal, thousands of people were forced to spend a very cold night outdoors after their houses were damaged by a strong earthquake on Friday, reports the BBC.
157 people died and more than 300 were injured in the quake.
Officials say search and rescue missions are coming to a close. The focus now is on providing shelter to the homeless and arranging essential supplies – of which tents represent a shortage.Thousands of people who lost their homes slept under the open sky or in makeshift tents in freezing temperatures overnight.
Relief efforts are focused on the more remote parts of the two districts worst hit by the 6.3-magnitude earthquake – Jajarkot and Rukum West.One survivor from Rukum, Baljeet BK, pleaded for government assistance to shelter the now-homeless people: „There is no food to eat and no shelter to stay in. People are staying outside in the open. We have to stay in this cold. Entire houses have gone away.”
In the most affected areas of Jajarkot, preparations are being made for the mass cremation of people who died during the earthquake.
People are not only suffering from the loss of loved ones, but also fearing the possibility of more aftershocks.
In Jajarkot and West Rukum, officials have told people to stay away from their homes.
More than 250 aftershocks have hit the region since Friday. According to the National Earthquake Measurement and Research Center, six of the aftershocks were of magnitudes above 4.
The Nepali government has agreed to accept help from friendly countries and promised to reconstruct the affected areas within a year. The authorities have also said that they will provide free treatment at the hospitals for the injured. They urged people to be aware of fraudulent calls offering relief.
