CRI听力:Marking One Month since the Deadly Earthquake in Nepal

Around 400 people have gathered in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, to mark one month since the first massive earthquake hit the country, killing thousands and leaving tens-of-thousands more homeless.

The group has held hands to form a human chain around a historical monument destroyed in the quake.

"People are still scared because of the continuing aftershocks even after one month has passed since the big earthquake. Many of our houses are still cracked or damaged and people are still living in tents. We are still scared."

Hundreds of families are still living in open camps and temporary shelters and many schools remain shut.

Jamie McGoldrick, the UN's Resident Coordinator in Nepal, says the country needs billions of dollars to help rebuild.

"The flash appeal we launched a month ago was for 423 million (US) dollars. And that covered all key emergency sectors for a three month period. We find ourselves now at a target of only 22 percent funded and so that is some 92 million dollars - a very big gap in what we need to make sure that response to this crisis is effective, efficient."

Elhadj as Sy, with the International Red Cross says they've currently aiming to raise around 90 million US dollars to help with the relief efforts.

"The first appeal was about 35 million dollars; and now with the projection into longer term and reaching up to seven-hundred thousand people with recovery and building back better,--so we are projecting additional needs, a revised appeal of over 90 million dollars. These kind of disasters, they leaves also many invisible wounds. People are traumatized; people are scared; people are really shocked. The first priority in this kind of situation is always shelter."

At the same time, the United Nations is warning around 70-thousand children under the age of 5 are at risk of malnutrition.

UNICEF also says it's concerned about the long-term health of many of Nepal's children, saying many will have to deal with both physical and psychological scars left by the massive earthquakes.

For CRI, I'm Niu Honglin.