More than 500 people living in remote rural areas in Nepal are reported to have died of infectious diseases since April. The government has come under sharp criticism for failing once again to provide basic medical facilities to villagers living in border regions, especially towards the north. About 20,000 people are estimated to have undergone medical treatment for acute respiratory infections, pneumonia, measles and gastroenteritis in the remote areas, according to Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) under the health ministry.