Govt appeals people to support PMDRF

Kathmandu, Apr. 28, 2015:

The government has appealed to all Nepalese citizens and foreigners to deposit their monetary support into the accounts of the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund (PMDRF) at Nepal Bank Limited - 00211053313, Standard Chartered Bank Nepal – 01013243801, Nepal Bangladesh Bank – 035141 C, Everest Bank Limited – 00101102200012 and 00100105200270 and Global IME Bank – 0411010000005.

The emergency relief assistance for the victims of the devastating earthquake that hit Nepal on Saturday afternoon, and afterwards, is on the rise as more countries, organizations and private companies, national and international, have announced monetary, technical and other aid to Nepal.

Japan  provided 8.4 million dollars emergency grant aid to the devastating earthquake relief efforts which was announced on Monday while it has also announced 2 million USD relief aid for tents and blankets through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the humanitarian support to the victims.

Apart from the monetary support, Japan also decided to send 45 member Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Medical Team comprised of team leader, doctors, nurses and pharmacists which arrived in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

Likewise, Japan sent a JDR Rescue Team on Monday to conduct rescue operations for missing persons in response to the Government of Nepal request.

JDR Rescue Team includes 70 evacuation specialists from police, fire department, and JICA. 

A statement from the Embassy of Japan, Kathmandu said, "The Government of Japan makes its utmost efforts on these emergency humanitarian supports and continues to provide Nepal with effective assistance in the stage of recovery and reconstruction in a seamless manner."

United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund has announced the assistance of 15 million USD as the humanitarian support.

United States of America has sent US Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) and announced a grant of 10 million USD while European Commission announced assistance of 3 million Euro for the quake relief.

United Kingdom was preparing to send a Gurkha Army Engineers team, the Daily Mail reports. UK has also sent 1,000 temporary houses and 1,700 solar lamps to the quake affected area.

Bhutanese prime minister Tsering Tobge took a round to Nepal with the relief assistance of 10 million USD along with 63 volunteers from Bhutan.

Tobge is the only foreign head of government who visited the country in the time of national crisis, so far.

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) constructed separate committee to help the government and people in the rescue and relief operations.

Both the parties also directed their central committee members, lawmakers and cadres to go to the earthquake affected districts and begin rescue and relief operations in coordination with the Chief District Officer.

Non-Resident Nepalese Association is collecting money for the relief in Europe, Middle East and American countries.

It has made an appeal to its members and Nepalese communities abroad to donate money in the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund (PMDRF).

Likewise, Help Nepal announced the donation of 10 million rupees while Centre for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) announced 12.8 million rupees donation as the humanitarian support.

Nepalese civil servants would donate their certain day's salary to the PMDRF.

Special class government officers would donate amount equal to their 15 days salary while first class officers would donate 10 days and second class and other government officials would contribute their 5 days salary to PMDRF.

Meanwhile, Indian multinational companies announced various kinds of assistance to assist the government in relief operations.

Coca-cola, India sent 10,000 pieces of 1 litre water bottle, Godrej workers announced to contribute their 1 day salary and Dabur Nepal would donate juice and glucose while Rasna would donate 7 tonnes glucose and powder milk and Surya Nepal, an subsidiary of Indian Tobacco Company (ITC), would help the government with 200,000 packet of food items and 9 tonnnes of biscuits.