Govt appeals for help to cope with natural disaster

Minister for Foreign Affairs Sahana Pradhan, Friday, invited representatives of Kathmandu-based foreign diplomatic missions and international aid bodies at the Ministry and appealed for help to cope with consequences of natural disasters.

Due to weeks-long monsoon rainfall, floods and landslides have affected most parts of the country. Particularly, Terai districts have been ravaged by the floods with human toll reaching 86. Around 200,000 people have already been displaced from their homes.

Minister Pradhan informed that 60,000 people needed to be fed for at least three months period.

At the meeting with the Minister, most of the foreign representatives pledged help to Nepal. They have agreed to provide emergency as well as long term assistance.

British ambassador Dr. Andrew Hall said that DfID will be looking at how it can help in the reconstruction and rehabilitation.

The acting ambassador of the United States, Robert Hugins, said that his government had provided $ 50,000 humanitarian assistance to the Nepal Red Cross Society as initial response. "We will look at new information and make available further assistance as needed," he said.

Earlier, the World Food Programme (WFP) in Nepal had committed to help in feeding of 60,000 persons. nepalnews.com sd Aug 03 07

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