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Earthquake-stricken Nepal officially urges int'l community in reconstruction, rehabilitation

Xinhua, May 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

Earthquake-ravaged Nepal has officially urged the international community to make contribution for the reconstruction of damaged infrastructures as well as rehabilitation of thousands of its displaced people.

During a briefing to over two dozen ambassadors based in Kathmandu, Nepal's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mahendra Bahadur Pandey informed about the Nepali government's decision to set up a Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Fund (RRF) with a target of collecting 2 Billion U.S.dollars.

Spokesperson of the ministry, Tara Prasad Pokharel told Xinhua that the minister asked the ambassadors for support in reconstruction and rehabilitation of the thousands of people displaced during the briefing.

"The Nepali government has already transferred 200 Million U.S. dollars to the Fund as seed money in this fund. I am confident that generous contributions of the international community to the Fund will significantly contribute to the rehabilitation and reconstruction process," a statement issued by Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday quoted the Nepali Foreign Minister Pandey.

The minister also informed the ambassadors that 34 foreign teams involved in rescue teams have been requested to leave the country as the rescue operation has come to an end.

"Our government commends the international community for spontaneous and generous support extended to Nepal at this hour of national tragedy. More than 76 rescue teams and 70 medical teams with the strength of above 4,050 trained personnel with 129 canines from over 34 countries were effectively involved in rescue operations across the earthquake-hit districts (Sindhupalchok, Kathmandu, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Rasuwa, Kavre, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur and Dolakha)," the minister said during the briefing.

According to the minister, the foreign rescue teams recovered 16 people alive and 150 dead bodies from the rubbles of collapsed structures.

"I extend my sincere thanks to all of them for the heroic jobs so professionally and courageously undertaken despite difficulties posed by recurrent aftershocks, rainfall, remoteness of hardly-hit areas and Himalayan terrain. We wish them a safe journey back home, " the Ministry's of Foreign Affairs quoted the minister as saying.

According to the Nepalese Home Ministry, the 7.9-magnitude earthquake on April 25 completely destroyed at least 200,552 houses and partially damaged 186,285 others, forcing thousands of people to stay in the open shelter.

The death toll of the devastating earthquake soared to 7,276 and another 14,362 were injured so far, the ministry said.

At least 58 foreign nationals were killed, 52 were injured and 112 foreign nationals are still missing, the ministry said. Endi