KATHMANDU: Nepal on Tuesday received Rs six billion from the European Union (EU) as the first tranche of the Nepal-EU Action for Recovery and Reconstruction (NEARR) budget programme.

In a statement, the EU Delegation to Nepal informed the second and final tranche of the same value would be granted later this year.

The aid comes as a part of the pledge made my EU Commissioner Neven Mimica in June 2015 during his Nepal visit for the International Conference on Nepal's Reconstruction, according to the EU.

"The NEARR action is based on an agreement with the Government signed in April 2016 and constitutes the EU's main response to the rehabilitation and reconstruction needs."

The Post Disaster Recovery Framework (PDRF) of May 2016 is guiding the EU and Government of Nepal's combined aspiration to help the earthquake survivors to build back their houses better, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, EU Ambassador to Nepal Rensje Teerink, in the statement, called stakeholders to rigorously focus determination, skills and energy on implementing the PDRF to rebuild houses, schools and other infrastructure.

"This is the moment to create more resilient, inclusive and prosperous communities in an accountable, transparent and sensitive way, and to inject more dynamism into Nepal's economy.

"The EU expects Nepal to seize this opportunity and counts on the leadership of the National Reconstruction Authority," added Teerink.