National
Quake-displaced face hardships due to cold
Earthquake survivors living at temporary shelters in the district are facing hardships due to increasing cold.Rajendra Manandhar
Earthquake survivors living at temporary shelters in the district are facing hardships due to increasing cold.
Maiti Thami of Bhimeshwor Municipality-2 said her family members find it very difficult to spend nights as they feel like sleeping inside a cold store. “I am worried for my two kids,” she said. Like the Thami family, around 75, 000 families
living in temporary huts in the district.
Dr Binod Dangal of the Gaurishankar Hospital said around half of the patients who come to the health facility are suffering from cold-related diseases. “They have been complaining of common cold, fever and asthma,”
he said.
Health workers at the hospital said one-year-old Dipika Thami, a quake survivor of Sundrawati-6, was seriously affected due to the cold and has been referred to the Capital for treatment. Dipika’s father said she fell ill they were living inside a temporary hut.
Chief District Officer Devendra Lamichhane said the quake surviors have been facing problems as their shelters are not built properly. “They have used the government aid of Rs 15,000, which was meant for building temporary shelter, for something else,” Lamichaane said, adding that the government plan to distribute Rs 200,000 to build a permanent house for each affected family has also been delayed.
Meanwhile, quake survivors in Kavre have also
facing similar hardships as they are yet to build permanent house. “Without a
proper roof and wall, dew is beginning to seep into the blankets at night,” said Thuli BK, 72, of Panchkhal-4 in the district. Putali Tolange, another quake survivor in the village, also complained of improper shelter. She said she has been living with her two kids and cattle in a temporary hut. District Public Health Office chief Rajendra Prasad Sah said the displaced
quake victims have been suffering from cold-related illnesses. He said they have sent required medicines to the affected areas.