Surkhet, Oct. 18 -- Nearly three years after an earthquake devastated parts of western Nepal, thousands of survivors in Jajarkot, Rukum West and Salyan are still living in temporary shelters and are set to celebrate Dashain in makeshift homes for another year.

Although local governments have begun identifying eligible households, signing grant agreements and processing requests for the first instalment of reconstruction aid, most affected families have yet to make progress towards rebuilding permanent homes.

The earthquake struck on November 3, 2023, with its epicentre at Ramidanda in Barekot Rural Municipality-1 of Jajarkot district. It damaged homes across 17 local units in Jajarkot, Rukum West and Salyan. While some reconstruction wo...