Himalayan News Service
Kathmandu: The UK government is yet to announce assistance to the family of three people killed when its Lainchaur-based embassy compound wall collapsed during Sunday’s earthquake.
Talking to journalists, Ambassador John Tucknott said the issue was now with the UK Treasury.
He had met the bereaved family members and the local community three times since Sunday.
The family of those killed and injured gave the embassy a list of their requests yesterday.
“I think the UK government will respond to the request by tonight or tomorrow morning,” said the envoy. He said the assistance will be a matter between the family and the UK government.
“We’ll make it public only if the family is satisfied,” he said.
Asked why the embassy staff had prevented local people from removing the rubble immediately after the wall collapse, the envoy said, “We have security cameras and there was live electricity running through the wires. There could have been more fatalities.”
“It’s a wake-up call for the British government,” he said, adding that the government was ready to provide assistance to the Nepal government for relief efforts.
As part of UN’s Nepal Risk Reduction Consortium, the UK is providing $30 million over the next four years. Fearing further mishaps, the embassy has requested the Home Ministry to block the two routes next to the compound wall.