As Monsoon Looms, UN Chief Urges International Community To Help Nepal's Reconstruction

By Manik Mehta NEW YORK, May 18 (Bernama) -- Addressing the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Friday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the international community to support Nepal by investing on a long-term basis to enable the Himalayan nation to sustain itself while recovering and rebuilding from the massive destruction caused by the earthquake on April 25. The 7.8 magnitude temblor left over 8,200 dead, according to official estimates. At a special session of the UNGA which adopted a resolution on 'Strengthening Emergency Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Response to the Devastating Effects of the Earthquake', Ban offered condolences and sympathies to those who had lost a family, friend or loved one during the earthquake. Even as the country reeled under the first earthquake, another massive follow-up tremor shook Nepal again last Tuesday, killing dozens more and dealing yet another blow to the country's already severely crippled infrastructure. The UN member states, with the unanimous adoption of the resolution, have requested Ban and the wider UN system to continue assisting Nepal to ensure more effective coordination of the national and international relief operations, and reconstruction efforts. The UNGA resolution, unanimously backed by its 193-member states, underscored the importance of linking relief assistance with rehabilitation and development from the outset. However, Ban also reminded the UNGA that the people must also be able to continue to have their livelihoods, and efforts should be geared to stimulate small and medium enterprises. According to him, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, whose Nepal Earthquake Flash Appeal currently stands at US$423 million aimed at supporting people through immediate lifesaving aid operations, currently has only 14 per cent of the funds. Although humanitarian operations are intensifying and relief goods entering the country more quickly, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced and rendered homeless; countless more are left without food, water and healthcare. Emergency health teams comb through the country to help the victims, UN sources told Bernama Friday night. Meanwhile, Ban also warned about the onset of the monsoon season in June and reminded that “we need to do more” with more than half a million people needing emergency shelter before the heavy rain started. The country’s economy, heavily dependent on agriculture, could be badly affected unless farmers were able to plant seeds now, even though some areas of Nepal were still completely without water and sanitation facilities. “I cannot stress enough the importance of getting aid and clean water supplies to everyone in need over the next few weeks,” said Ban, adding that talks involving the Nepal Government, European Union, development banks and UN were already getting underway. UNGA Acting Vice-President, Kaha Imnadze also echoed Ban’s sentiments, emphasising that access to health care, sanitation and hygiene services were “critical priorities”. -- BERNAMA