The govt has urged the victims to make use of bamboo poles and plastic sheets for shelter

KATHMANDU, May 1

Despite a huge demand for tarpaulin tents and food items in quake-hit areas, the government has done little to distribute the relief materials among the victims.

Around one lakh tents are required but the government has been able to distribute only around 26,000.

“Around four lakh people are in need of shelter, as they have lost their homes. But we have been able to distribute 26,000 tents,” said Minister for Information and Communications Minendra Rijal at a press meet organised at the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Although, the government has been trying to bring additional tents from India, Bangladesh, China, Dubai and other countries, the material has not been received so far, said Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat at the same press meet. “We are tapping into all possibilities but are not getting the materials in reality,” said Mahat.

Since sufficient tents have not been received, the government has urged the victims to make use of local bamboo poles and plastic sheets for temporary shelter, said minister Rijal. Even after one week of the devastating earthquake, the government teams are yet to reach out to all the affected areas with food and shelter.

“The government teams are trying to reach out to the affected areas even on foot,” said minister Rijal.

The government has, so far, distributed 4,647 quintals of rice, 166 quintal salt, 310 quintal sugar, 80,000 cartons of noodles, 1,638 quintal beaten rice and 25,720 cartons of biscuits.

Altogether Rs 640 million has been released to District Administration Offices of the concerned districts to use it for rescue and relief work, according to minister Rijal.

Free house assessment

KATHMANDU: If anyone is afraid to live in their homes fearing aftershocks, they can call 5010251 and 5010252. The Nepal Engineers’ Association has offered free damage assessment, situation analysis and rapid visual damage assessment of their homes and structures using volunteer technicians, said Padhma Kumar Mainali, Spokesperson for Ministry of Urban Development.

Fund raising

KATHMANDU: Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat has scotched rumours that the government received a huge amount as foreign assistance but it has not been able to disburse it. The Asian Development Bank has agreed to provide $3 million and Bhutan has provided $1 million. Some local business groups, such as Khetan, have provided up to Rs 100 million. Despite that PM’s relief fund has not got enough hard cash. As some other countries and agencies have promised to provide cash assistance, the finance ministry is trying to collect consolidated information from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other agencies, Mahat said.

Although private organisations are raising funds, the money can only be used through the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund and no one can use the fund raised in their own interest, Mahat said. The government has also instructed authorities concerned to make social and foreign organisations use the assistance only after informing District Administration Office. “It is imperative to avoid misuse of the fund raised and assistance provided and to ensure transparency and accountability,” Mahat said.

The government has delegated the power of exempting tax on relief materials at customs offices to chief district officers, he added.

Mahat requested the donor agencies to provide either cash or relief materials such as rice, sugar and salt.