Additional Rs 33 billion released to NRA; Red Cross serves 3 million quake survivors

Kathmandu / Dec 6: The Ministry of Finance has released Rs 33 billion to the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) for the reconstruction of the structures devastated by the 25 April 2015 earthquake.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara said additional Rs 28 billion was released to distribute private housing grants and Rs 4 billion for renovation of school building in a way to mobilize the reconstruction fund.

Likewise, Rs 750 million was released for the reconstruction of government buildings in the quake-hit districts and Rs 250 million for distributing compensation of lands, said NRA Spokesperson Ram Prasad Thapaliya.

The Ministry has expected that the release of the money would ease mobilization of resources for the reconstruction of school building, government structures and roads.

The resource availability has been ensured to carry forward the reconstruction works and additional funding would be provided based on the progress, NRA Spokesperson Thapaliya quoted Finance Minister Mahara as saying. RSS

Red Cross serves 3 million quake survivors

Since Nepal’s deadly 2015 earthquakes, the Red Cross Red Crescent has reached more than three million survivors with emergency aid and is now helping tens of thousands of people rebuild their homes and get back on their feet in various ways.

Nepal Red Cross Society Secretary General, Dev Dhakhwa, informed in a press release that the Red Cross was now making significant progress on shelter, which is the most urgent priority for many of the survivors. More than 5,000 families had already received the first tranche of Red Cross cash grants and many started building their new houses.

He however said the owner-driven rebuilding of permanent housing, with Red Cross financial and technical support, is only one component of an integrated recovery programme being implemented in the 14-worst affected districts.

“The various pieces of the jigsaw are now coming together and other concrete examples of what we’re doing include rebuilding and upgrading health posts and hospitals and dozens of schools, providing clean drinking water and proper toilets to quake-affected communities,” said Max Santner, Head of the International Federation of Red Cross Societies’ Nepal Country Office.

Moreover, the Red Cross has also been providing cash grants, seeds and tools to help people restore their livelihoods through farming or other ways. Ensuring that local Red Cross chapters are better prepared to face future disasters is a further important priority, with the NRCS network of community volunteers playing a vital role. RSS