Fuel crisis in Nepal affecting quake relief work: UN officials

With winter fast approaching, top UN humanitarian officials have expressed concern over delay in providing food and shelter to the earthquake-hit people in Nepal due to fuel crisis caused by blockade of trade points along Indo-Nepal border.
The UN Humanitarian Country Team said that the fuel shortage has significantly affected distribution of essentials to quake-hit people and appealed for a quick resolution of the fuel crisis so that winter goods can be delivered to vulnerable households.
Providing shelter and food remain top priorities after the April earthquake and its aftershocks that devastated the Himalayan country.
"With the winter on the way, we must ensure adequate shelter and food security, particularly for more than 80,000 families," said Jamie McGoldrick, Humanitarian Coordinator in Nepal.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that humanitarian partners, with the Government of Nepal, provided emergency shelter to over 700,000 families, but the effect of the coming harsh cold weather is a concern with many people still without permanent durable housing.
Around 9,000 people were killed and more than 600,000 houses were destroyed and 290,000 houses damaged in the April 25 earthquake and its powerful aftershock on May 12.

According to an OCHA statement, humanitarian partners provided food to over 1.4 million people over the last six months, while established temporary classrooms for 300,000 children and supported health authorities to restore all damaged health facilities by June.

"When faced with tough challenges like the monsoon season, landslides and difficult terrain, we are proud of how we have been able to support the Government and people of Nepal and respond to the challenges overall. But present conditions are a concern," McGoldrick said.
Nepal is reeling under acute fuel shortage as major trading points between Nepal and India remained shut down due to the ongoing agitation by Indian-origin Madhesi people, who are protesting against the promulgation of new constitution in the country.
The nearly two-month-old protests in Nepal's southern plains bordering India have halted the delivery of essential goods and fuel to Nepal through the main trading points.

India has dismissed reports that it bears any responsibility for the blockade and said that supplies were disrupted because of the agitation by Madhesi parties.