The government, so far, has distributed 3,520 quintals of rice, 59,037 cartons of instant noodles, 16,072 cartons of biscuits and 22,827 units of tarpaulin to the affected districts.Naindra Prasad Upadhyaya, secretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS), said relief materials are being dispatched based on the number of earthquake victims in the affected districts. "This figure, however, does not include relief sent through helicopters," added Upadhyaya.
Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) is looking after distribution of relief materials.
"It may not be sufficient. But we want to supply relief materials without further delay," Upadhyaya said. "We will also put in place a monitoring mechanism to ascertain whether or not relief materials are properly used."
Government officials say they still do not know the exact number of affected households and affected people.
According to Upadhyaya, noodles and biscuit factories had supplied their productions directly to NFC as per the request of Ministry of Industry. NFC so far has collected a total of 13,239 cartons of biscuits and 20,000 cartons of noodles.
The government will pay factory-gate price to the noodles and biscuits manufacturers within 15 days, according to the officials.
NFC distributed food grains, salt and sugar from its inventory. Tarpaulins were collected from different donors.
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