Phone and Internet communications have been hit in Nepal’s capital city of Kathmandu after a devastating earthquake, forcing aid workers at times to ask people to walk or drive, if possible, to send messages.

The International Red Cross and tech companies like Facebook and Google introduced tools to help users check online on people affected, but their effectiveness could be limited by  large-scale power outages and last-mile Internet connectivity problems.

“Communication is very difficult within Kathmandu and to rural areas,” said Zubin Zaman, deputy director at aid agency Oxfam India.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

…