Rukum West, Dec. 14: Earthquake-affected people in Rukum West districts are living a difficult life in the cold weather. They have no option but to live under a tarpaulin braving the winter chill after their houses were damaged in the November 3 earthquake. 

Despite surviving the earthquake, the lack of warm clothes has made their life more vulnerable. Visually impaired Khagendra Kami of Aathbiskot Municipality-12 in Rukum West is struggling to fight cold as dew drops inside his tarpaulin. “I have received only a sack of rice and this tarpaulin as relief. I am keeping myself warm by making a fire at night,” he said. 

Similarly, Barsana Pun Magar of the same locality is also worried about the cold weather. She and her family are also living under a tarpaulin. 

There are 950 households in Ward No. 12 of the municipality. Although only three people lost their lives in the ward in the earthquake, the damages to physical structures have been extensive. Despite the initial distribution of tarpaulins and some food items by the government and various supporting organisations, the victims still lack warm clothes. 

Meanwhile, the International Nepal Fellowship (INF) has provided warm clothes to each family to reduce the risk of cold. It distributed a set of warm clothes to a family of five members and two sets to the family with more than five members. A set consists of one set pillow, one mattress, one blanket and two sets of clothing. 

The earthquake-affected people have expressed happiness over receiving the relief. Kami informed that he had received warm clothes for the first time after the earthquake. He said that it would help combat cold this season. The organisation initially aimed to distribute warm clothes to 260 households in the ward but ended up distributing at least one set of warm clothes to 450 families. 

Even though the government and non-government organisations have provided relief materials, there was still a need for warm clothes especially as the cold intensifies in the coming days. 

Aathbiskot Municipality’s Deputy Mayor Dhan Kumari Shahi said that relief items including food and other essentials had been provided to the affected individuals based on priority. She said that ongoing relief distribution and temporary shelter construction works were in progress with priority given to Wards 11, 13, and 14 which were severely affected. She also admitted that this was the first time the victims were provided with warm clothes.

Sukra BK, coordinator of the Disaster Project at Shining Hospital INF Surkhet, informed that more than 400 families in Ward No. 12 received warm clothes. He stressed the need for additional support as the cold weather continues to pose challenges to the victims. 

BK informed that along with the distribution of warm clothes in coordination with the municipality, they had also conducted on-site studies to identify areas with increased daily struggles for earthquake survivors. 

The organisation has also provided counselling services to earthquake-affected individuals especially women and adolescent girls. Shining Hospital INF Surkhet physiotherapist Manoj Singh Thakuri conducted medical examinations for disabled individuals and Anita Chhetri provided counselling for women and adolescent girls.