Those most vulnerable after natural calamities are the elderly, women, children and infants. It is over two months since the devastating earthquake of April 25, followed by some powerful aftershocks. Seventeen districts and also the three cities of the Kathmandu Valley were hardest hit by the temblors. Since many of the houses in these parts were destroyed or rendered unfit to live in, the quake victims had to take shelter in makeshift camps in open spaces like Tundikhel. According to the figures made available by the UNFPA as many as a thousand babies were born in such camps after the April 25 earthquake. Among those to suffer the most are pregnant women, new mothers and the newborns in these shelters. The temporary shelters of corrugated zinc sheets tend to trap the heat adversely affecting the new born babies and their lactating mothers. Furthermore, the tents are uprooted by the strong winds adding to their woes. Not only this, but they suffer from the adverse weather conditions. As if this was not enough, water trickles through the tarpaulins and tents when it rains making life difficult for them. The air and sound pollution also create more hardships. Kits would also have torch lights, soaps, combs, nail cutters and tooth brushes and tooth paste, among other things, to maintain hygiene Preliminary treatment has been provided to lactating mothers in the shelters at Tundikhel by setting up health camps. Twelve new mothers are presently being provided with free medical treatment there. They have also been provided with nutritional baby food and yoga, as well as oil massage to keep the women and babies healthy. Women have also been benefitting from psycho-social counselling being carried out by the health workers. Over two million girls and women of reproductive age, 126,000 of them pregnant, urgently need the ‘dignity kits’ which consist of sanitary pads which can be reused, undergarments such as petticoats and apparel like maxis, sarees, and shawls. Such kits would also have torch lights, soaps, combs, nail cutters and tooth brushes and tooth paste, among other things, to maintain hygiene. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of water to wash themselves. Therefore, something has to be done to make adequate water available also for washing, sanitation and hygiene. Apparently, even some of those who were provided with these things earlier have already used them and are in dire of new ‘dignity kits’. The situation in most of the shelters elsewhere in the quake-affected districts is worse. No doubt, more attention should be provided to the pregnant women in the camps in the quake-hit areas so that they would be able to maintain their hygiene in the makeshift tents. Personal hygiene is indeed essential; otherwise they would suffer from various diseases, particularly the pregnant women, new mothers and the new born babies and also the sick in the makeshift camps. The disaster victims can consider themselves fortunate if they have shelter as many of them in the districts have to live under the open sky with the relief materials yet to reach them. Under the circumstances, it is essential to build proper shelters and housing for the victims for they cannot continue to live in the makeshift camps for a long period. Disaster response More than five dozen people have already lost their lives in the landslides and floods triggered by the pre-monsoon rains and around half a dozen people have died after being swept away by the swollen rivers in the mid-western region. Authorities have anticipated more natural disasters, such as floods, blockage of rivers and inundation in the plain areas as hilly areas of the country have developed ruptures due to April 25 earthquake and aftershocks. More than 5000 dry landslides have occurred as a result of the quake and they can further slide during the rainy season. The government has therefore kept its security bodies on high alert so that they can be swiftly deployed for emergency humanitarian response. Learning lessons from the earthquake, the authorities said they have kept ready the relief materials and cash at all district headquarters and in vulnerable areas. Rescue operation may be the top priority of the government. But there must be a concrete plan of permanent resettlement of the families displaced by the natural disasters that occur every year.