Jajarkot earthquake: NC, Unified Socialist contribute to Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund

KATHMANDU, Nov 7: In response to the recent earthquake in Jajarkot and Rukum West, the Nepali Congress (NC) has contributed Rs 5 million to the Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund to aid survivors.

A delegation of NC office-bearers, including President Sher Bahadur Deuba, visited Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' at his official residence in Baluwatar to present a cheque for the assistance amount.

The ruling coalition partner also submitted a nine-point proposal to the government over the post-earthquake relief, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts. The party lauded the Prime Minister's initiatives in response to the earthquake, particularly the search and rescue operations. The party recommended that the federal government oversee and facilitate the implementation of a one-door policy for rescue and rehabilitation efforts by ensuring the leading roles of the provinces and local governments towards that end

During the meeting, the Prime Minister assured that the best practices in post-disaster management would be followed, and the search and rescue operations following the recent earthquake had been completed. "The focus has now shifted to the second phase response, including relief and rehabilitation."

As he said, he held separate meetings with ambassadors from the neighbouring countries as the government wants the cooperation from the neighbours to go to the survivors in the form of quality relief. The government continues to receive financial and other sorts of support from all quarters for the disaster response.

The meetings with ambassadors were centred on the management of storage facilities at the local level and the establishment of criteria for the development of integrated settlements based on the geographical features of the affected areas. 

The culture of togetherness inherited by the Nepali has been reflected this time, too, according to him. 

Meantime, the CPN (Unified Socialist) contributed Rs 2.5 million to the Fund. A delegation led by the party's Chair and former Prime Minister, Madhav Kumar Nepal, called on the Prime Minister at Baluwatar and presented a cheque for the assistance amount.