Organizing a press conference on Sunday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) said that the government is in desperate need of tents and tarpaulins as victims of the earthquake that hit the country last week have been increasingly demanding it for temporary shelters above all relief materials. It is estimated that some 400,000 tents and tarpaulins are still needed.
"As many structures in the affected areas have either collapsed or damaged beyond repair and the rainy season is approaching, people's foremost demand with the government has become tent. But we have not been able to meet the increasing demand. So, we appeal to both national and international donors to provide us with more tents immediately," said Lakshmi Prasad Dhakal, spokesperson of MoHA.
He said that the government needs at least 300,000 tents to provide shelter to the victims of the earthquake, which has completely damaged 190,021 houses, partially damaged 172,017 and killed 7,250 people in 15 hill districts of the country. Sindhupalchowk, Kavrepalanchowk, Nuwakot, Dolakha, Gorkha, Kathmandu and Lalitpur districts are among the most affected.
As of now, the government has distributed around 150,000 tents to the victims while the total demand is over 400,000 and is surging significantly as victims have no other option than to take refuge in temporary shelters for the time being.
Since the disaster, the government has received 9,867 tents, 3,048 tarpaulins, 17,377 blankets and 830 mattresses from national and international donors for relief to the victims. "Our local bodies have been distributing tents to the victims through local purchases. But the demand for tents is surging so rapidly," said spokesperson Dhakal.
The West Bengal state of India on Sunday has announced to provide 100,000 tents.
Dhakal said that the tents promised by the Indian state would provide a huge relief to the victims. The minsitry also said that the government is also in need of additional helicoptors to supply relief materials to the remote villages where relief has not reached yet in lack of roads. Currently, 27 helicopters -- 7 of Nepal Army, 6 of private companies and 14 of Indian government -- are in operation for relief distribution.
The government has released over Rs 1.3 billion to the District Administration Office of all the 15 districts for relief distribution to the victims. The government has even urged the donors to supply with food items immediately.
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