Over 2,000 earthquake-hit families in Gorkha and Ramechhap districts received Rs 10,000 as winter relief, thanks to the efforts of the Nepal Red Cross Society.

The Red Cross in coordination with the District Disaster Management Committee provided the aid to the quake survivors, who are living in temporary shelters now, to buy warm clothes.

Harka Bahadur Chepang of Tanglichowk-9 in Gorkha, however, said he is planning to buy foodstuffs with the amount. “There are 11 members in my family. Though we need warm clothes for winter, the amount is not sufficient to buy clothes for all family members,” he said.

Another quake survivor, Dil Bahadur Praja, also shared a similar sentiment. “We cannot tolerate hunger. Though we can spend night making bonfires to keep ourselves warm, there’s no food in our house,” he said.

A majority of Chepang families from Tanglichowk, Bhumlichowk, Makaising, Taklung, Ghyalchowk

and Hangshapur VDCs in Gorkha said they are planning to purchase foodstuffs with the amount. A total of 833 quake-hit families received the relief amount in the

district.

In Daduwa of Ramechhap, most of the 1, 208 quake-hit families who received the amount said they are

planning to buy sweaters to avoid cold.

Quake survivor Sanu Thami of Gadhigaun said her children are faced hardships due to the bone-chilling weather. “We could have bought blankets had they

provided more money,” Sanu said, adding that she has six children in her family.

Some Thami people said they drink alcohol early in the morning to avoid cold. Krishna Thami, a local resident, said he cannot survive without the liquor.

Nepal Red Cross Chairman in the district Shiva Kumar Karki, meanwhile, advised the recipients to buy warm clothes with the amount. “The money has not been

distributed to buy liquor. You should use the amount to keep your family members safe,” he said.