Australia commits more aid to quake-hit Nepal

Australian will provide an additional 10 million AU dollars (7.93 million U.S. dollars) support to help the people of Nepal recover from the devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announce on Sunday in a press release.

The funding will be used to support women and vulnerable communities to establish small businesses and generate income; vulnerable children to go back to school, with a focus on girls and children with disability; and rebuilding better and safer education infrastructure with advice from Australian engineering experts.

This brings Australia's contribution to the Nepal earthquake to more than 20 million AU dollars (15.8 million U.S. dollars), including 10 million in humanitarian assistance to be delivered by Australian non-government organizations, UN partners, the International Federation of the Red Cross and the Australian Red Cross.

Some 50,000 AU dollars (39,650 U.S. dollars) have been allocated in maternal and child health and protection for women and girls.

The Australian government has also sent two C17 flights carrying 936 tarpaulins, 1,200 blankets, 746 hygiene kits and 80, 000 water purification tablets to Nepal.

Humanitarian personnel and a medical team have been sent to assist with coordination and assessments. Endi