Nepal yet to spend the earthquake relief aid

Kathmandu

It has been two months since foreign countries and international agencies pledged $4.1 billion to help Nepal recover from its worst natural disaster, the government is yet to make arrangements to receive the money and has spent nothing on reconstruction.

The United Nations estimates almost three million survivors of twin earthquakes in April and May - around 10% of the Himalayan nation's population - need shelter, food and basic medical care, many in mountainous, hard-to-reach areas.

Govind Raj Pokharel, chief executive officer of the newly created National Reconstruction Authority, said the government was unlikely to start spending the money until October at the earliest because of delays in approving plans and concerns about starting building work in the monsoon season. "The government's response has been slow. I accept that," said Pokharel.

Nepal has been criticised for its chaotic response to the quakes that killed almost 9,000 people. The country failed to adequately prepare even though experts had predicted an earthquake was likely. And then the government struggled to cope with relief. Four months later, many partially damaged buildings in Kathmandu are still standing and rubble is strewn across public parks. Tens of thousands of people are living in plastic tents, preyed upon by flies and mosquitoes, with muddy paths and no drains.

Maili Pariyar, 50, knitting a purse to sell outside her tent, said she only received food and tent materials from aid agencies. She has not been given anything by the government. "We have lost everything. We are desperate," she said. "How much longer do we have to wait for help?" she said.