After the quake

The problem is not a paucity of relief material but quickly getting them to all the places they are needed.

The immediate post-quake response of state agencies was mostly on target. The magnitude 6.4 earthquake that struck Western Nepal late on Friday caught the locals unawares. As of this writing, at least 157 people have died in Jajarkot and Rukum West districts while 208 remain injured. One reason human casualties were high was because most people were asleep at the time. The prime minister quickly flew to the region to take stock of the situation, all three security agencies were promptly mobilised, and other related agencies also swung into action. Health professionals from around the country had started descending on ground zero by the next morning. This swift response can be attributed to the learning from the 2015 earthquakes and the subsequent Covid-19 pandemic, especially when it comes to coordinating efforts and pooling resources in times of crisis. On Sunday, the federal government decided to begin relief and rescue, including arranging shelter, food and security requirements of those displaced. The rebuilding of vital infrastructure that was destroyed by the earthquake is to be completed within a year alongside the identification of safe places for resettlement of the uprooted families.