Addressing a press conference in the capital before wrapping up her two-day official visit to Nepal on Monday, Ploumen said the Netherlands government provided 10 million Euro to Nepal for immediate relief to the earthquake affected people while the Dutch NGOs through local partners in Nepal already spent about 20 million Euro. "We will work with World Bank and UN agencies in the later phase to help in the rehabilitation and reconstruction works," said Minister Ploumen.The Netherlands is one of the largest contributors to the UN Emergency Response Fund and World Food Program.
Ploumen said the Netherlands will participate in the donors' conference being organized by the Nepal government to raise necessary fund to rehabilitate earthquake-affected victims and reconstruct damaged physical infrastructures. "We will participate in the donors' conference. This will be a good opportunity for Nepal to discuss with donor community its rehabilitation and reconstruction plan," she further said.
The devastating earthquake that hit Nepal on April 25 and again on May 12 claimed the lives of over 8,600 people and destroyed physical infrastructures worth billions of rupees.
Ploumen expressed hope that the Nepal government would come with a comprehensive Post Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA) and its plan to carry out rehabilitation and reconstruction works during the donors' conference. "The donors' conference should not be one time shop. There should be follow up of the conference again," the minister added.
Earlier in the morning, Ploumen visited various earthquake affected settlements in the suburbs of Kathmandu Valley including Shankarapur Municipality-15, Sanagaun in Kathmandu and a Mijar settlement in Lalitpur district. Dutch aid agency ICCO Cooperation along with Lutheran World Federation as well as other partners united under ACT Alliance Nepal Forum has provided various relief materials, including tarpaulins, blankets, food items, hygiene kits and psycho-social counseling to earthquake victims.
Ploumen stressed the need for building safer houses so that people do not have to be victims of similar natural calamities in future. "I am moved to see what has happened to Nepal. People are living peacefully in community even after losing everything. I found them trying to cope up with the situation together," she said after visiting the earthquake affected settlements.
According to a press statement issued by the ICCO Cooperation, Ploumen attended a meeting with the members of Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA), a partnership of 12 Dutch aid organizations and Ministry of Foreign Affairs." The Dutch government has already made a donation of four million Euros available for humanitarian assistance in Nepal, which is currently being administered by DRA," the statement said.
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