Kathmandu, May 7

Three districts — Rasuwa, Sindhupalchok and Sindhuli — hit by the devastating April 25 earthquake have witnessed a significant increase in poverty, a study carried out by the Poverty Alleviation Fund shows.

The quake that killed nearly 9,000 people, injured around 22,000 and destroyed hundreds of houses and structures, has crippled the country’s economy. The report that was made public in the capital today said the study was conducted in three quake-hit districts — Rasuwa, Sindhupalchok and Sindhuli — and it was found during the study that 15-20 percent households hit by the quake were forced to live below the poverty line.

The report suggested to the PAF to introduce programmes to lift the living standards of quake-affected families in collaboration with other organisations.

On the occasion, chief disaster expert Man Bahadur Thapa, who was also a part of the study team, stressed the need for PAF to initiate programmes like livestock insurance in raising the standards of quake-hit families.