TRIBENI (Rukum West), Nov 18: The first phase of relief distribution has been completed in various places of Rukum West hit by the Jajarkot earthquake. Although rescue efforts were completed the day after the quake, the first phase of relief distribution was over on Friday after two weeks, informed Assistant Chief District Officer Prabesh Baduwal.

Relief materials including tarpaulins, blankets, rice, pulses, mats, salt, and cooking oil were distributed to the affected families of Aathbiskot Municipality and Sanibheri Rural Municipality, he said.  

The first phase of relief distribution has also been completed in Musikot and Chaurjahari Municipalities, and Banphikot and Tribeni Rural Municipalities where there were comparatively lesser scale of loss of lives and properties, he said.

According to the disaster management committee meeting, the construction of temporary residence would start after receiving complete details of the damage from local level units.

Cash relief has been distributed to the families of those killed in the quake in Rukum West. A total Rs 7.7 million has been distributed to the families of the deceased. A total of Rs 1.6 million to the families of 10 people killed in the quake in Sanibheri Rural Municipality, and Rs 6.1 million to the families of 37 deceased in Aathbiskot Municipality), said Chief District Officer Hari Prasad Panta, also coordinator of the district disaster management committee.

Cash relief was distributed from the government-sponsored fund as per its decision to provide Rs 200,000 each to a family of the deceased, and Rs 300,000 to each family which lost more than one member, he said.

Of Rs 50 million sent to the district disaster relief fund, cash Rs 6.7 million has been distributed to the affected families, and remaining would be spent for constructing temporary residence and rehabilitation of the quake victims, said Baduwal.

In Rukum West, 53 people were killed in the quake on November 3. Many quake victims have complained that they have been greatly affected by the cold without their proper rehabilitation.

Laxman Shahi of Aathbiskot Municipality-13, a quake victim, who has lost his mother, sister and two nephews to the quake, said many quake victims including himself were suffering from cold.

Amid the pain of losing family members, the quake victims had another worry of how to save their own lives from the cold, he said.

"We need temporary housing to be safe from rain and cold for the time being. We cannot sleep due to the cold. Tarpaulins are not enough for us to be safe," he said.

Another quake victim Hari Bahadur Oli is also worried about the problem he and his family are facing due to the cold. "The government should manage a reliable accommodation for us to be safe from cold," he demanded.

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