KATHMANDU: As three months are nearly over after the devastating April 25 earthquake that rattled Nepal, the United Nations commented that the nation is still in the emergency.

The United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs issued a press statement on Friday and said that hundreds of thousands of people still await urgent humanitarian assistance including foods and shelters.

“The emergency is not over yet,” said Jamie McGoldrick, Humanitarian Coordinator in Nepal, in the statement, “As long as humanitarian needs persist, relief agencies will continue to support the government in addressing these vulnerabilities and ensuring the survival of communities affected”.

The global body said monsoon weather has further exposed quake survivors to more hazards while delay in customs clearance also added to challenges for aid agencies.

Meanwhile, the UN said it could collect only half of USD 422-million humanitarian appeal it sought in last three months.

“To date, only USD 210 million, or 50 percent, was received against the appeal,” the UN said, “An additional USD 222 million in support to post-earthquakes relief was provided directly to the Government of Nepal on a bilateral and in-kind basis.”

The UN will continue collecting humanitarian support from international community for quake victims of Nepal, McGoldrick said.

“Together, we achieved a lot,” McGoldrick said, “But we must continue."

“We cannot fail the most vulnerable communities, people who count on us more than ever with the monsoon season underway and the winter fast-approaching,” added the official.