The UN has expressed concern over the acute shortage of fuel in Nepal that has affected the delivery of humanitarian supplies to earthquake-hit areas ahead of winter.
The "humanitarian organisations in Nepal are facing a race against time to ensure delivery of urgently required supplies such as food and shelter materials to these high altitude areas that will soon be cut off with the onset of winter," the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nepal, Jamie Mcgoldrick said in a statement yesterday.
"The onset of winter in Nepal is projected to have an adverse impact on earthquake-affected communities living in high-altitude isolated areas," it said.
Mcgoldrick said that due to limited ability to conduct deliveries by road and air during the recent monsoon season, a backlog of 1,200 MT of shelter and non-food item supplies is awaiting delivery to earthquake-affected people.
According to the UN coordinator, 80 per cent of the supplies are warehoused in the districts, but acute shortages in fuel supplies continue to impede planned deliveries to affected villages and trailheads for onward transportation using mules and porters.
"It is of critical importance to deliver supplies to the trailheads by end of October as the passes in the Himalayas will be at increased risk of being blocked by snowfall."
Nepal is facing acute shortage of fuel over the past three weeks due to blockade by India in the southern border after tensions in the Nepal-India border, where various Madhesi groups have launched agitation protesting against the promulgation of the new Constitution.
More than 40 people have died in the agitations launched by the Madhesis - the Indian-origin inhabitants of Nepal's Terai region bordering India - and Tharu ethnic groups in southern plains, hitting hard normal life.
They are against splitting Nepal into seven provinces. The continued blockade of border trade points with India has halted the supply of essential goods from India.
Some people in Nepal blame India for the shortage by imposing an embargo.
India denies imposing blockade, saying truck drivers are concerned for their safety after protests in the country.
