KATHMANDU: India, China and the World Bank have pledged immediate financial and humanitarian support for rescue, relief and reconstruction efforts in flood-hit Nepal.
Shortly after reports of the devastating floods emerged, World Bank Country Director for Nepal David Sislen contacted Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle at 10:35 am and said up to Rs 25 billion could be mobilized through various sources as emergency assistance.
India has asked the Nepali government to provide a list of relief materials urgently needed for flood victims. Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal, coordinating with the prime minister, finance minister and other senior officials, said Indian relief supplies were being prepared for delivery to Kathmandu on Thursday.
China has also pledged immediate cash assistance to Nepal. Chinese Ambassador Zhang Maoming has urged the Nepali government, through the finance minister, to initiate the process for transferring the funds.
The government has expressed gratitude to India, China and the World Bank for their support and is coordinating among relevant agencies to finalize mechanisms for mobilizing the assistance.
The Cabinet’s decision to declare affected local levels in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading as disaster crisis-hit areas has also opened the way for the government to mobilize domestic and international assistance for relief and reconstruction.
