Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala appeals for funds, vows full transparency in aid efforts

Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala on Thursday pledged to ensure full transparency in massive reconstruction efforts, seeking to allay international donors' fears over corruption as he appealed for a robust partnership in rebuilding the quake-devastated country.

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, opening an international donors conference here, appealed for funds and also thanked India and other neighbouring countries and aid agencies for "promptly and generously" providing specialised rescue professionals and relief supplies.

"I assure you that we will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that your support reaches the intended beneficiarie....We are committed to ensure that transparency remains at the core of the reconstruction effort," said Koirala at the international donors' conference where India pledged USD one billion in assistance to quake-ravaged Nepal for its massive reconstruction programme.

"We are grateful to our neighbours - India and China, fellow SAARC member states, and all other countries that so promptly and generously dispatched specialised search and Rescue professionals and relief supplies within hours and days of the earthquake assisting us in our efforts," he said.

He said to overcome the huge challenges of rehabilitation and reconstruction, Nepal needs a robust partnership with its neighbours, international donors and financial institutions.

The Government has decided to establish a high-level National Reconstruction Authority under the Prime Minister for carrying out the tasks of sustained, durable and planned reconstruction.

The Premier said that political parties in Nepal have shown an unprecedented sense of national unity and reconciliation.

"They have forged a consensus to have an inclusive federal democratic constitution promulgated through the elected Constituent Assembly. It is my firm belief that this will irreversibly put Nepal on the path of peace, stability, rule of law, and development.

"I assure you my Government will have Zero tolerance toward corruption, he said.

He said national ownership of reconstruction and development agendas, policies, and strategies with a clear set of national priorities will ensure optimal use of scarce resources, capacity and expertise, where needed.

"I therefore call on the distinguished representatives to work with us, the Government of Nepal, in an environment of good faith," he said.

Nepal desperately needs assistance to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals destroyed or damaged by the April 25 earthquake and a strong aftershock on May 12.

The powerful earthquake killed nearly 9,000 people, injured 23,000 people and damaged more than 500,000 buildings leaving hundreds of thousands of people jobless.

The Prime Minister said that the country's economy has been hard hit by the disaster, and the annual economic growth this year is projected to be lowest in eight years.

Speaking at the one-day donors' conference, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said one fourth of the USD one billion assistance to Nepal will be grant and it will be over and above India's existing bilateral developmental assistance of another USD one billion over the next five years which takes the total assistance to USD 2 billion.

In the conference, China announced a package of NRs 76 billion for the post earthquake reconstruction and rebuilding works.

"China will mainly focus in assisting in the areas of trade, investment and agriculture. We are ready to provide full assistance for Nepal's economic and social transformation to achieve sustainable development," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.

Japan announced an assistance package of US $260 million and said it will focus on three areas: school rebuilding, housing and infrastructure.

Japan will help in rebuilding 7,000- earthquake resilient schools destroyed by the recent earthquake in collaboration with Asian Development Bank.

It also expressed commitment to rebuilding and renovating cultural heritage sites of Kathmandu to revive its tourism industry by collaborating with the UNESCO.

The US pledged to provide US $130 million emergency relief and early recovery assistance while Norway announced US $30 million in humanitarian assistance for Nepal's rebuilding.