Victims in no better condition in Kirtipur

KATHMANDU, April 29: Just 14 kilometers away from Kathmandu in Kritipur, dozens of victims rendered homeless by Saturday's earthquake and after-shocks are still waiting for essential relief materials like medicine, food and water. The lack of relief materials means the condition of the injured, children and elderly is fast deteriorating. Hundreds of houses at Gamcha, Bhakepati, Panga and Naugaun villages, among others, were either fully or partially destroyed by Saturday's earthquake. Most of the remaining structures were weak as a result and were destroyed by Saturday's earthquake. Most of the remaining structures were weak as a result and were destroyed the following day after the valley experienced an earthquake that registered 4.1 on the rector scale.

'Many have lost their house to the earthquake and the situation is pathetic," said one of the victims, Asim Bista. "Our house is partially damaged and we are scared to go in. It can bury us anytime. Hence, just like many other families here, we too are deprived of essential daily needs," he added.

According to Asim, the victims are in need of medicines, clean drinking water and food to survive. Many of those who had been injured while trying to flee during the earthquake have seen their conditions deteriorate from the lack of basic necessities.

"Even though Kirtipur is just few kilometers away from the capital, we feel we live in a very remote place. The people in need are not getting even cetamol or other essential medicines. However, police had visited here to take the account of the house damage,' Asim reported.

The tent Asim shares with at least a dozen other victims in Gamche village for the past five days does not protect them from rain or cold. Several children who share the tent have reported of stomach related problems while the elderly have begun to show the signs of cough and cold.

Asim's father, Bishnu Bahadur Bista, who is still in shock following the earthquake, stated that 'the government should try to distribute the relief materials and funds pouring into the country equally. "We don't expect much from the government as the destruction is massive. We would just like to believe that the government would distribute the relief provided by several agencies to the real victims. If it could do that much, we would be so grateful," said Bishnu Bahadur who is a staff at the Drinking Water Corporation.

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