The earthquake in Nepal deeply saddened UN secretary general Antonio Guterres, said his spokesman.

“Having just recently returned from Nepal, and with the hospitality and the spirit of the country’s people fresh in his heart, the secretary general expresses his solidarity with the government and people of Nepal,” said Mr Guterres.

“He extends his sincere condolences to the victims’ families,” said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for Mr Guterres. “He wishes a swift recovery to those who were injured.”

Mr Dujarric said the world body is working closely with the authorities to provide speedy assistance, including food, shelter and medicine, to those affected.

The World Food Programme has dispatched six metric tonnes of food to the impacted areas and is providing logistical support to the government. The World Health Organisation has deployed medicines and supplies to meet the primary healthcare needs of 1,000 people.

UNICEF distributed over 2,000 emergency shelter sets, with an additional 3,000 sets on the way.

UN Women is collaborating with women’s groups to support community kitchens and provide relief packages, said the spokesman.

The 6.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal’s Karnali Province on Friday is the largest in the country since a 5.6-magnitude earthquake in 2015.

According to Nepalese authorities, a total of 157 people have been confirmed dead and 349 others injured, and 17,529 houses have been found partially damaged and 17,792 others fully destroyed. 

(Xinhua/NAN)