Jajarkot: The road leading through Jajarkot district is now punctuated with green tarpaulin tents, erected by the Armed Police Force (APF) Nepal. These makeshift shelters provide refuge for the local population who found themselves exposed to the elements after their homes were damaged by the earthquake that struck on November 3.

In response, the APF Nepal has set up tarpaulin sheet tents to shield those affected from the cold, following the collapse of many traditional mud-and-stone masonry houses due to the 6.4 magnitude tremor. Tenting arrangements have been made in the precincts of Tribhuvan Secondary School as part of a campaign to provide temporary shelter following the devastating earthquake.

Due to the persistent aftershocks, many individuals are unable to return to their homes, and earthquake survivors are now living under the shelter of tarpaulin sheets in the school's grounds. Pradip Khadka from Bheri Municipality-2 expressed his sense of security while residing in one of these tents.

APF Nepal teams have reached various wards within the municipality to facilitate the distribution of relief. These APF personnel have played a pivotal role in distributing relief materials, counseling earthquake survivors, and assisting in the setup of tents.

However, many residents in outlying areas outside the district headquarters are still lacking sufficient relief and rehabilitation due to limited attention from government bodies. The locals face the challenge of inadequate information and knowledge on earthquake safety measures, especially considering the continuous aftershocks.

These survivors are facing considerable discomfort even under tarpaulin covers, as the local government has not been able to supply sufficient blankets and bedding. For instance, Ganesh Thapa of Bheri Municipality-3 shared his concern regarding the lack of warm clothing. Moreover, relief materials have not yet reached many remote locations outside the district headquarters, and the disorganized distribution of aid has been causing problems.

Relief efforts need to be more coordinated, and the distribution should follow clearly defined criteria. Unfortunately, some relief materials have been distributed according to the convenience of various organizations' representatives who have reached the villages, further complicating the situation.

Additionally, Barekot Rural Municipality received relief materials two days after the earthquake, underlining the ongoing challenges faced by people living outdoors, particularly the need for protection from the cold.

Major Aftershock Injures Thirteen

A major aftershock with a magnitude of 5.8 on the Richter scale struck the region on Monday, causing injuries to thirteen people in Jajarkot and Rukum West. The epicenter of the aftershock was located in Ramidanda, the same area as the November 3 earthquake's epicenter.

Two individuals were injured in Jajarkot, and eleven in Rukum West as a result of the aftershock that occurred at 4:30 pm on Monday, according to Chief District Officer of Jajarkot, Suresh Sunar.

Tragic Child Deaths

Disturbingly, almost half of the earthquake's casualties were children. Data from the police indicates that out of the 157 people killed in the earthquake on the night of November 3, 78 were children. Tragically, 50 children lost their lives in Jajarkot, while 28 perished in Rukum West due to the earthquake, as reported by Deputy Superintendent of Police Santosh Roka.

In Rukum West, 28 of the 52 victims were children, as per the district police chief Namraj Bhattarai. "Most of the victims in Rukum West were children, including two 10-month-old infants," he lamented.

In Jajarkot, out of the 105 deceased, 50 were children, alongside 33 women and 18 men. In Rukum West, 16 women and eight men perished in the earthquake.