Reconstruction Urgency

Two months into the November 3 earthquake, by now all those who were left homeless should have been rehabilitated in decent houses strong enough to provide shelter from the elements. But in a heart-wrenching scene, many victims – several of whom are elderlies, newborns, expectant mothers and others – in the worst affected districts of Jajarkot and West Rukum continue to languish in tents in the middle of biting winter cold. The reason: delay in the construction of temporary houses. And the more delay it gets, the more things will turn from bad to worse.