Caritas aid missions are reporting that villages in remote areas of Nepal have been utterly devastated by the earthquake. Speaking from Pokhari Danda in Gorkha, about seven miles from the epicenter, Stefen Teplan of Caritas Germany said: “Sixty percent of the village is destroyed. More than food and water, what is needed most is temporary shelter before the monsoon sets in.” The death toll from the 7.8 magnitude earthquake increased to over 7,000, with thousands still reported missing. Over 130,000 houses have been destroyed and 85,000 houses partially damaged. Caritas has reached 4,000 families in the Katmandu Valley with plastic sheets, blankets and food. Teams have also reached some of the worst affected rural areas. The priority is shelter. “The people who have lost their homes are exposed to the rain and cold weather at night. They really need international solidarity,” said Angan Baj, the emergency response manager for Caritas India.