KATHMANDU: The Chinese government has provided $2 million, equivalent to more than Rs 300 million, in cash assistance to support relief and rescue efforts for people affected by floods and landslides in Nepal.
Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming handed over the assistance cheque to Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle at the Ministry of Finance on Sunday.
The ambassador also handed over an additional $200,000, equivalent to around Rs 30.6 million, in cash assistance provided by the Red Cross Society of China.
While handing over the assistance, Ambassador Maoming said Nepal and China would work together to deal with the major natural disaster affecting the Himalayan region.
He said Chinese President and Prime Minister had conveyed messages to the Nepal government expressing China’s continued support for Nepal during the disaster.
According to the ambassador, other relief materials provided by China have also started arriving in Nepal. Two Chinese aircraft brought 50 tonnes of relief supplies to Kathmandu on Sunday, including tents, blankets, sleeping bags, medical kits and biscuits.
China has pledged to continue providing necessary assistance in the coming days.
Efforts to bring stranded Nepalis back from China
Ambassador Maoming also informed Finance Minister Wagle that efforts were underway to bring back Nepali citizens stranded in China following the floods in Rasuwa through the Korala border point in Mustang.
He also said China had sent specialised personnel and equipment to Nepal to help rescue people trapped inside tunnels of hydropower projects.
According to Maoming, a specialised rescue team, along with a Chinese helicopter, had arrived in Nepal on Saturday, while additional rescue technicians arrived on Sunday.
He said China was also expediting the process of sending drones to Nepal after the government requested drones capable of carrying large quantities of equipment for tunnel rescue operations.
Wagle thanks China for assistance
Receiving the assistance on behalf of the Nepal government, Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle thanked China for its support to Nepal as the country faces an unprecedented disaster.
Wagle noted that both Nepal and China had suffered significant human and material losses due to floods and landslides and expressed deep condolences on behalf of the Nepal government for the losses in China.
He also paid tribute to Chinese citizens who lost their lives in the disaster and expressed condolences to their bereaved families.
Wagle said rising global temperatures could expose Himalayan countries to increasingly severe natural disasters in the coming days. He stressed the need for greater cooperation and coordination between Nepal and China to address such risks.
He also said Nepal expected further substantial support from China for reconstruction following the damage caused by the floods and landslides.
During the assistance handover ceremony, Wagle and Ambassador Maoming observed a minute of silence in memory of Nepali and Chinese citizens who lost their lives in the disaster.
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