1.3m exposed to earthquake: UN

The United Nations has said that around 1.3m people might have been exposed, and about 0.25m may need humanitarian assistance within 72 hours of the earthquake. 

Days after 153 people were killed and several hundred injured, another strong earthquake with 5.6 magnitude struck  on Nov 6. On Nov 3, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck in the Jajarkot and Rukum Districts of Karnali Province, causing widespread damage.

With the completion of the government’s search and rescue operation, the number of deaths stands at 153 (Male: 70, Female: 83) and 338 (Male: 138, Female: 200) injured. The initial findings of the Government’s Initial Rapid Assessment (IRA) launched on Nov 5 say over 4,000 homes were damaged in the hardest hit districts, UN said in a press statement.

Following the initial assessment of the remote damage assessment of available secondary data satellite images USGS data and earthquake risk model, around 1.3m people might have been exposed and about 0.25m people may need humanitarian assistance within 72 hours of the earthquake, the UN said in a press statement. 

In response to the earthquake—the largest to impact Nepal since the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2015—United Nations agencies have been providing temporary shelter, food, and non-food items as part of a comprehensive and urgent response to the pressing needs of the affected communities.

UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, Hanaa Singer-Hamdy said, “The government has immediately responded very effectively with search and rescue operations. Despite geographical remoteness and a difficult operating environment.

The UN agencies and humanitarian partners are on the ground supporting the government’s efforts by reaching out to around 3000 households with food, shelter, WASH, protection, and health support. More than 382 aftershocks were reported forcing people to spend nights in the open or makeshift shelters in freezing overnight temperatures.  “The impact of this latest earthquake is compounding the difficulties and vulnerabilities of communities with low socio-economic indicators and stretched coping mechanisms.”