KATHMANDU, MAY 21

Australia is providing an additional AUD $7 million (Rs 635 million) in funding to Nepal to support its COVID-19 response.

This funding is part of a AUD $17.5 million package to support Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, to strengthen the resilience of the South Asian region. A press release issued by the Embassy of Australia to Nepal today, Australia's contribution will boost Nepal's ability to address COV- ID-19, including through the procurement of essential equipment and health supplies, such as oxygen for provincial hospitals and personal protective equipment for health workers.

This funding will be delivered to our trusted and established partners working on-the-ground across Nepal, in coordination with the work being undertaken by other donors, including the US, UK, Japan and UN agencies. The Australian government continues to support the provision of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines in Nepal. Australia's Ambassador to Nepal Felicity Volk said Australia was working to support the most heavily impacted communities in Nepal.

'Australia and Nepal have a long-standing friendship and a history of supporting each other during times of crisis. Australia is deeply concerned about the devastating impact that COVID-19 is having across Nepal and the region.

A version of this article appears in the print on May 22, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.