by Our Foreign Desk

NEPALI Prime Minister Sushil Koirala described his country as being “on a war footing” yesterday as he appealed for increased aid from overseas to help rescue efforts following Saturday’s devastating earthquake.

“The government is doing all it can for rescue and relief on a war footing. It is a challenge and a very difficult hour for Nepal,” he said.

A Home Ministry official put the latest death toll at 4,349, but Mr Koirala warned that the number of lives lost could reach 10,000.

The prime minister was abroad when the 7.9 magnitude quake struck, but he returned on Sunday and has issued orders to his government to improve co-ordination of the relief.He appealed for foreign assistance, saying that tents and medicines were needed.

Many people are sleeping outdoors because their homes have been destroyed or may not withstand the dozens of aftershocks that have hit the country, said Mr Koirala.

“The government needs tents, much medicine. People are sleeping in fields and rain. There are more than 7,000 people injured. Their treatment and rehabilitation is going to be a big challenge,” he added.

Heavy rain brought fresh misery yesterday to the Kathmandu Valley, where tens of thousands of people are living outside, fearing to return to their homes.

The United Nations says that eight million people have been affected by the earthquake in Nepal and that 1.4m people are in need of food assistance.

The challenge of supplying small villages at high altitudes “is quite significant,” said UN resident co-ordinator Jamie McGoldrick.