An MP has praised the "resilience" of the Nepalese people after visiting the country on the first anniversary of a devastating earthquake.
But Seema Malhotra said they still needed Britain's support as Nepal struggles to get back on its feet following a number of additional setbacks.
The Feltham and Heston MP travelled to the country to see how it is recovering one year after the 7.8-magnitude quake struck on April 25 2015, reportedly killing nearly 9,000 people.
She visited an orphanage during the trip at the beginning of the month, where she saw how money raised in Hounslow was helping youngsters who lost their families in the disaster.
She also met business leaders, politicians and volunteers helping to rebuild the Boudhanath stupa (a famous Buddhist monument and World Heritage Site in Kathmandu), during her two-day trip with Bishnu Gurung, who is Hounslow's first Gurkha councillor.
"What I came away with was a strong sense of their resilience and confidence in trying to move forward," she told getwestlondon .
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"But there's a long way to go, and as well as helping with the reconstruction, it's important that we think how we can help them rebuild their industry and increase exports."
Earthquake victims still sleeping in tents
Ms Malhotra, who was in Nepal shortly after Prince Harry visited the country, said many people were still sleeping in tents after losing their homes, power cuts were an everyday occurrence and children in the orphanage she visited had to share beds such was the demand.
She said the recovery had been hampered by an unofficial trade blockade with India, which had limited supplies of gas and essential materials for repairs, and by delays in setting up a reconstruction authority to oversee the use of international aid.
She also pointed out the efforts were taking place against a background of political instability, as the Nepalese government attempts to draw up a new constitution.
West London is home to a large Nepalese diaspora, with more than 11,000 people from the country, including many Gurkhas, living across Brent , Ealing , Harrow , Hillingdon and Hounslow , according to the 2011 Census.
Ms Malhotra was one of several MPs from the area to attend a parliamentary debate organised by Harrow West MP Gareth Thomas on Monday (April 25) about the anniversary of the Nepal earthquake.
Mr Thomas raised concerns about what he described as the slow pace of reconstruction, saying much of the pledged funding yet to be committed to projects.
He claimed the widespread loss of livestock had severely hit already impoverished families, leading to an increased risk of sexual violence, human trafficking and child labour.
Claims of young earthquake victims being trafficked
"Indeed, I have had representations from Nepalese constituents of mine worried about an increase in the trafficking of young earthquake victims," he added.
Virendra Sharma , MP for Ealing and Southall, said tourism had been badly hit and said more humanitarian aid should be spent "building resilience" against future disasters.
Stephen Pound , MP for Ealing North, praised the efforts of Rotary International members, particularly those in Ealing and Greenford , to get shelter boxes to earthquake victims in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
