Nepal on 'war footing' as quarter of population hit by quake

Nepal is "on a war footing" as it tries to help survivors following Saturday's earthquake, its prime minister says.

Sushil Koirala said the government was doing all it could but was overwhelmed.
The UN has estimated that eight million people have been affected - more than a quarter of the population. Foreign aid is arriving but being hampered by congestion at Kathmandu's sole airport.

The death toll from the 7.8-magnitude quake is now 4,356, but Mr Koirala said it could reach 10,000.

"The government is doing all it can for rescue and relief on a war footing" in a "difficult hour" for Nepal, Mr Koirala told Reuters news agency.

He has also admitted that lack of equipment and expert personnel meant the "appeals for rescues coming in from everywhere" in many cases could not be met.

Almost 8,000 people are known to have been injured when the quake hit and in numerous powerful aftershocks which have sent people fleeing from their homes to camp on open ground.

Water, food and electricity are in short supply and there are fears of outbreaks of disease.

"According to initial estimations and based on the latest earthquake intensity mapping, eight million people in 39 districts have been affected, of which over two million people live in the 11 severely affected districts," said the most recent report from the UN Office of the Resident Co-ordinator.

Landslips and periodic bad weather in the remote mountainous region around the epicentre are adding to the challenge.

BBC