Feature: Quake-stricken Nepali families carrying out self-help while waiting for outside aid

Many quake-stricken families in Nepal have been doing their best to help themselves while waiting for outside aid for clearance and reconstruction since the devastating 7.9-magnitude earthquake on April 25.

In Balaju, Kathmandu, a 50-year-old man hired five laborers to repair his house. His brother Raja Ranjitkaar said, "We cannot wait for the government's decision and we need to restart our business as soon as possible."

The Ranjitkaar family witnessed the death of half a dozen neighbors during the temblor. The brother said, "Some people have started to clear the debris themselves as waiting for the government might take more time."

Rasila Maharjan was searching for utensils in the rubble of her house.

The 36-year-old from Dharmasthali, Kathmandu said, "Our villagers have already decided not to make our houses more than 3- story high. Although people have started to make temporary settlements, they will not protect them from approaching monsoons. "

Prakash Dongol who was clearing cement from bricks said, "We are trying to collect useful materials from the debris to reuse them."

The Dongol family in Dharmasthali were searching for their valued materials from the debris.

Showing some materials that have been salvaged from damaged houses, Guna kaji Bindukar from the same village said, "We have to make temporary settlements in the same space because we do not have other open spaces available."

He said, "We are waiting for the government's assistance for our damaged houses." His wife added, "Local government officials have promised to provide funds quickly."

Following a 7.4-magnitude massive aftershock that shattered Nepal on May 12, the situation of Charikot, the district headquarters of Dolakha, some 130 km away from the capital, was totally depressing and the small town, once replete with bright colored buildings, has been turned into rubble.

People in Charikot are staying on streets and in open spaces and in urgent need of food and logistic assistance from outside. they are also in fear that the remaining houses will collapse too as unfortunately the epicenter of all aftershocks following the fresh quake has been at Dolakha.

Over 20 days have passed since the devastating quake jolted Nepal, killing more than 8,000 people and displacing hundreds of thousands of families, victims in many worst-hit areas are waiting for more help.

Minister for Home Affairs Bam Dev Gautam, who was inspecting the district, told Xinhua the other day that with such limited resources the government is trying its best for relief operations across the country.

Nepal Rastra Bank, the financial regulatory authority, has already announced interest-free loans from the bank for house reconstruction. The central bank has also informed commercial banks and financial institutions that they could take a maximum interest of 2 percent under home loans for such purposes.

Nepal Planning Commission's two layers of temporary and permanent assistance for the quake-hit families to build settlements within two months have been discussed in parliament. Endi