Nepal still needs humanitarian assistance

United Nations, July 25: Three months after a devastating earthquake hit Nepal, thousands of survivors continue to rely on urgent assistance, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has said.

"Shelter, food, livelihood support, water, sanitation, protection, and medical and psychosocial care remain top priorities," said Eri Kaneko, the UN associate spokesperson.

The Humanitarian Coordinator for the country, Jamie McGoldrick, has urged the international community not to fail the most vulnerable communities, with the monsoon season underway and the winter fast-approaching, said Kaneko.

UN agencies and their aid partners have only received 50 percent of the $422 million in finance appealed for humanitarian aid so far.

The 7.9-magnitude earthquake which struck Nepal on April 25 and ensuing aftershocks have left nearly 9,000 people dead, limiting access to food and leaving 3.5 million people in need of food assistance.

IANS