Nepal will be dependent on foreign aid for years as it begins a slow recovery from the devastating earthquake that could last a decade, a disaster expert has said.

Andrew Lee, a lecturer with the University of Sheffield inBritain, who has previously carried out research in Nepal, said the situation will be urgent for people living in the mountain areas of the country who will have little access to help.

The country is likely to struggle with the volume of aid needed, with only one main road link and one airport.

“Imagine trying to supply an entire city with food, water and shelter – and that is only the Kathmandu valley,” he said.

“A lot of the road access to people living in the mountains is gone, the only way to get up to them is by helicopter.

“Relief workers will find it very hard to get to these areas, but that is where the greatest need will be.

“It’s an urgent situation. Their homes and crops will have been devastated, they will be injured and they will have no building materials for shelter.

“They are only weeks away from monsoon season and they will be at risk of diseases such as dysentery and cholera.”

Aid agencies are flocking to the country to help in the huge scale relief effort, but their services will be needed long in to the future, Lee warned.

“Nepal will be wholly dependent on support for years in rebuilding their lost infrastructure, from buildings and hospitals to running water pipes and electricity.

“I’d expect it will cost hundreds of millions to rebuild the city. At least a decade of development will be lost because of this disaster.”

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