Thailand donates 4 mln USD to quake-hit Nepal

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o- cha on Thursday presented a donation of four million U.S. dollars from the Thai public to the Nepalese government and three international organizations to help quake victims.

At Government House in Bangkok, Prayut handed over the donations to the government of Nepal through Nepalese ambassador to Thailand Khaga Nath Adhikari, the International Flash Appeal for Nepal under the United Nations office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), a government statement said.

The premier expressed his condolences to the government of Nepal and to the people who have been affected by a devastating earthquake on April 25, which claimed more than 8,600 lives.

Thailand has provided financial donations, relief items, medicines and medical supplies, as well as medical teams and rescue teams to Nepal, according to the statement.

As the tourism industry is the main source of income for Nepal, Prayut also proposed prioritizing the reconstruction process of historical buildings, as well as providing assistance to the people so that they are able to survive during current hardship, it said.

"This contribution is extremely important," said Bijaya Rajbhandari, the UNICEF Representative for Thailand who received a donation of one million U.S. dollars from the Thai leader.

"The needs are still great and we have a long road ahead of us, not just in responding to the immediate needs of children and their families, but in helping them to rebuild their lives and to rebuild Nepal. This contribution will make a real difference in that effort," Rajbhandari said.

UNICEF estimates that 1.1 million children are in need of assistance in the areas worst-affected by the earthquake. Endi