KATHMANDU, Aug 28: The Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund has received more than Rs 1.91 billion in contributions in just 36 hours as individuals and organizations stepped up to support relief efforts following the devastating Bhotekoshi flood.
According to the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Rs 1.918 billion was deposited into the fund between Wednesday noon and midnight Thursday. The contributions were deposited into accounts maintained at 10 commercial banks.
The surge in contributions followed Wednesday morning’s devastating flood in the Bhotekoshi River along the Nepal-China border, which caused extensive loss of life and property. The government subsequently held a Cabinet meeting and declared the affected areas disaster zones.
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Individuals and organizations began contributing to the relief fund following the government’s declaration.
The government has designated the MoF as the focal ministry for collecting contributions to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund and coordinating the process.
Minister for Finance Dr Swarnim Wagle is personally accepting institutional contributions of Rs 10 million or more.
Individual donors can also visit the ministry to make cash contributions.
With the latest contributions, the fund’s balance has reached Rs 4.091 billion, up from Rs 2.172 billion previously.
On Thursday alone, private-sector donors in Nepal contributed Rs 273.3 million through the Ministry within a six-hour period.
The latest figure does not include contributions announced by various friendly countries.
