Brussels, 25/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 25 June, the European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, announced support worth €100 million for the reconstruction process in Nepal.
The Commissioner was speaking at an international donors' conference organised by the Nepalese government, after the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal on 25 April 2015, followed by a second massive earthquake on 12 May and its repeated aftershocks (see EUROPE 11340). Commissioner Mimica also announced that in addition to this long term aid, there would be a package of up to €5 million for technical assistance, to support the government of Nepal. This effectively means that emergency aid earmarked by the Commission has now been doubled
Commissioner Mimica said: “It is very important for us to provide support over the longer term for the rehabilitation of Nepal. We want to underline our ongoing commitment to helping the people and government of Nepal over this very difficult time. Our support will help those who have been hardest hit by the earthquake - the poor, women and the agricultural sector”.
The Commission has already released €16.6 million in direct budget aid to the Nepalese government. Initial emergency aid (€3 million) is actually being implemented to cover the most urgent needs of the population suffering most from the disaster (food, shelter and non-food items, drinking water, purification and logistical support) in the most affected areas in Gorkha, Sindhupalchok, Dolakha and Kravepalanchok.
This major disaster has left almost 9,000 dead, 22,000 injured and 3 million homeless, with more than 500,000 houses being partially or totally destroyed. (Aminata Niang)