KATHMANDU: Sixteen British lawmakers have written a letter to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, mounting pressure on him to facilitate supply of urgent medical assistance, including vaccines, to Nepal to help tackle the Covid-19 crisis.

In the letter submitted to Secretary Raab, the lawmakers urged the United Kingdom government to supply vaccines, oxygen concentrators, and essential medicines to Nepal at the earliest.

Nepal had appealed to the UK to help with vaccines to be provided to developing countries as the arrival of life-saving jabs under the Covax facility was likely to be delayed. The lawmakers also apprised Secretary Raab on Nepal’s recent health crisis.

Referring to the Gurkha soldiers’ support to the UK during difficult times, the lawmaker said the UK has been slow to extend support to Nepal.

The 16 MPs are affiliated with various political parties in the UK.

One of the 15 MPs, Kirsty Blackman also tweeted about the initiative.

As part of a cross party group of MPs I have written to the Foreign Secretary to raise the UK’s appalling lack of support for COVID-stricken Nepal. pic.twitter.com/Pg6o6B7swo

— Kirsty Blackman (@KirstySNP) June 8, 2021

Nepal has been a friend and ally to the UK for over 200 years. They need our assistance now. The Foreign Secretary must step up and take action.

— Kirsty Blackman (@KirstySNP) June 8, 2021