UK pledges more fund for post-quake reconstruction

Published On: January 24, 2017 12:30 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

A bridge built across a reef with the support of the UK government in this undated handout photo provided by the DFID recently.

KATHMANDU, Jan 24: The government of UK has pledge more funds to support Nepal's post-earthquake reconstruction efforts for 2017.

Issuing a press statement on Monday, the Department for International Development Nepal (DFID Nepal) said it is committed to partner with the government of Nepal to build back better.

Stating that the partnership between the two governments has played an important part in the progress of the reconstruction efforts, DFID said it seeks to ensure that the poorest and the vulnerable are not left behind in the process.

Immediately after the devastating earthquakes of 2015, the UK government had provided £70 million (about Rs 9.5 billion) as quick relief to the victims through DFID Nepal.

“This support allowed emergency shelters for over 210,000 people, transitional shelters for 70,000 people and WASH support for over 56,000 people immediately after the earthquakes,” reads the statement.

Last year, UK government agreed to provide an additional £73 million (about Rs 10 billion) support.

It is also working closely with communities through a Community Feedback Platform, to include local views and priorities in decision-making, claimed the statement.

“The UK has a strong track record of supporting humanitarian preparedness and disaster risk management more broadly in Nepal. This forward thinking before the earthquake helped save lives and shortened the response time after the earthquake,” said Dr Gail Marzetti, Head of DFID Nepal, through the press statement.

Overall, DFID reconstruction work will repair or upgrade over 400km of rural roads and trails enabling 300,000 people to better access markets and to improve tourism infrastructure, and reach over 250,000 people with improved water or sanitation, the statement further reads.