German assistance for Nepal earthquake recovery

KATHMANDU: Germany pledged to provide Euro 30 million (equivalent to 3.51 billion) to Nepal for earthquake rehabilitation.

German Ambassador to Nepal Matthias Meyer and Finance Secretary Lok Darshan Regmi signed an agreement to this effected on Monday.

According to a press statement issued by the Kathmandu-based German Embassy, the assistance would comprise two programmes, namely a Financial Cooperation Recovery Programme of Euro 25 million and a Reconstruction Programme of Euro 5 million.

While the German Development Bank-KfW on behalf of the Government of Germany would implement the first programme, the German Agency for International Cooperation would be responsible for the second project.

"In total, the German Government has committed Euro 35 million for immediate humanitarian relief and rehabilitation measures following the devastating earthquakes," the statement said, "In addition, more than Euro 60 million of private donations was mobilised in Germany by Non-Government Organisations, highlighting the particularly close relations and solidarity be-tween the two people."

Meanwhile, Ambassador Meyer expressed his concern over the impact of current border disruptions, which hit the people in the earthquake-affected districts and the poorer populations particularly hard.