A preliminary report on earthquake rescue and relief submitted to the prime minister by Nepal Bar Association (NBA) on Monday finds that civil servants are less active in rescue operations and relief distribution in the most devastated districts. NBA found that the rescue operations were relatively satisfactory but the distribution of relief packages was weak, ineffective, and open to controversy. "Such weaknesses were found not only in government-initiated relief distribution but also in the distributions led by other organizations. Everyone reached the places that are accessible to transportation but only a few have reached the remote areas that involve more risk," stated the report.

NBA has lauded the security forces and local organizations for their active participation in rescue and relief and stated that political party cadres were also found volunteering for rescue and relief, albeit in limited numbers. NBA has highlighted the lack of coordination between government agencies engaged in rescue and relief. "Though the government has conducted rescue and relief operations as per its full capability the lack of coordination is obvious. The rescue and relief have been unexpectedly hampered by lack of coordination between the security forces and the administration," the report further stated. The NBA monitoring also found that rescue and relief were conducted on an ad-hoc basis in the absence of adequate preparedness. NBA has said that there is a risk of misuse of relief packages in the absence of elected local bodies and because of the delay in sending out the relief and the political influence over the distribution process.

Raising all these concerns, the NBA has recommended that the government launch rescue operations in remote areas, under coordination from the central level. NBA has urged the effective distribution of the relief provided by foreign agencies and friendly nations. NBA has stressed that the government should provide at least one tarpaulin (tent) to each affected family and adequate food for 15 days at least. The umbrella organization of lawyers has also asked the government to immediately address complaints about discrimination and malpractice in relief distribution.NHRC directs government for effective relief distribution Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the government to make relief distribution more effective. After monitoring relief distribution in the three districts of Kathmandu Valley, NHRC concluded that victims of the devastating earthquake are not getting proper relief materials. NHRC on Sunday wrote to the government, urging it to give top priority to tents and foodstuff for those rendered homeless. NHRC has also stated that it has received several complaints about the politicizing of relief distribution and urged the government and organizations concerned to stop this and provide relief packages directly to the actual victims. Meanwhile, teams led by NHRC members Prakash Wasti and Sudeep Pathak have started monitoring the rescue and relief work in Sindhupalchowk, Dolakha, Dhading, and Gorkha districts.