Kathmandu, August 3:

After calculating that it needed at least $1.5 million to support over 10,000 persons displaced by floods and landslides, the government today formally called for international help.

The heads of foreign missions and donor agencies were apprised of the situation in the affected districts during a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.

“We need at least $ 1.5 million to provide food to the displaced persons for the next three months,” said Pratap Kumar Pathak, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), who was present during the briefing at Shital Niwas today.

While the United Nations World Food Programme has “committed” $5 lakh as flood relief, the United States Agency for International Development has already given $50,000 through Nepal Red Cross Society for the children affected by the flood, and the United Nations Development Programme has pledged $10,000.

Country Director of WFP, Richard Regan, told reporters that WFP had only $5 lakh for immediate release.

Home ministry statistics show that 2.68 lakh people have been affected by the floods and the landslides since July 10.

“We have allocated $50,000 for the children affected by the floods and we would seriously think about further assistance,” said Robert Hugins, the acting US ambassador.

British Ambassador Dr Andrew Hall said the British international development agency (Department for International Development) was evaluating the situation to assist Nepal in “reconstruction and rehabilitation.”

Minister for Foreign Affairs Sahana Pradhan said the government expected support from international community in rehabilitating those affected.