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Nepal shuts International airport to large jets flying in relief

Despite the needs of millions of people, desperate for aid in earthquake-hit Nepal, officials on Sunday were forced to close the airport to large jets, but small and medium-sized jets are still allowed to land.

The Associated Press reports that Birendra Shrestha, the manager of Tribhuwan International Airport, located on the outskirts of Kathmandu said the airport runway was not built to handle the huge military and cargo planes that have been bringing in relief workers, medical supplies, food and other supplies.

To add to the misery of an already dire situation in the country, workers have found more bodies, bringing the death toll to over 7,250 people. Laxi Dhakal, a Home Ministry official, said on Sunday that hopes of finding anyone alive under the rubble has faded dramatically. “Unless they were caught in an air pocket, there is not much possibility,” he said.

The airport situation is only the latest complication for the impoverished country. Nepalese authorities have eased their customs restrictions following complaints by the U.N., and this has helped in the movement of supplies. People in Katmandu and the many remote villages in the country are begging for help, complaining of not seeing any relief workers, international aid or temporary shelters.

One of the biggest obstacles to getting aid of any kind to people in remote villages has been the geography of Nepal. Added to that are the many landslides that have destroyed the already difficult road networks. Nepal has been shaken by over 70 aftershocks since the devastating initial quake on April 25.

The real extent of the earthquake damage remains unknown because so many villages have been completely cut off from rescuers. The U.N. estimates at least 8.1 million people, more that one-quarter of the population, have been affected by the earthquake.

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We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend Karen Graham, who served as Editor-at-Large at Digital Journal. She was 78 years old. Karen's view of what is happening in our world was colored by her love of history and how the past influences events taking place today. Her belief in humankind's part in the care of the planet and our environment has led her to focus on the need for action in dealing with climate change. It was said by Geoffrey C. Ward, "Journalism is merely history's first draft." Everyone who writes about what is happening today is indeed, writing a small part of our history.

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