KATHMANDU, Aug 30: China has provided cash assistance worth around Rs 336 million to Nepal for relief efforts following the devastating Botekoshi flood.
Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming handed over a cheque for $2 million, equivalent to around Rs 305 million, to Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle at the Ministry of Finance on Sunday.
The ambassador also handed over $200,000, equivalent to around Rs 30.6 million, provided by the Red Cross Society of China.
Zhang said China and Nepal would work together to deal with the disaster affecting both countries. He said additional Chinese assistance had already started arriving in Nepal.
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Two Chinese aircraft delivered 50 tonnes of tents, blankets, sleeping bags, medical kits and biscuits in Kathmandu on Sunday, with further assistance expected.
Zhang also said efforts were underway to bring Nepalis stranded in China back through the Korala border point in Mustang. He informed the minister that a Chinese helicopter and specialised personnel had arrived in Nepal to help rescue people trapped inside hydropower tunnels, with additional rescue technicians arriving Sunday.
China is also working to rapidly send large-capacity drones requested by the Nepal government for rescue operations.
Wagle thanked the Chinese government for its support and expressed condolences over the loss of Chinese lives in the disaster. He said Nepal expected substantial Chinese assistance for reconstruction of infrastructure damaged by the floods.
Earlier on Sunday morning, two Y-20 transport aircraft of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu carrying emergency relief supplies for Nepal.
The aircraft landed at around 7 am local time, bringing 13,200 items of emergency relief materials weighing around 50 tonnes. The supplies include tents, blankets, sleeping bags, hardtack and first-aid kits.
Four Chinese tunnel rescue experts also arrived in Kathmandu along with rescue equipment to assist in emergency response efforts.
Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun, and member of the House of Representatives Dharma KC attended the handover ceremony at the airport. They also welcomed the Chinese rescue experts.
The two Y-20 aircraft had taken off from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and reached Kathmandu after a flight of around three hours, according to the embassy of China in Kathmandu.
The emergency supplies and rescue personnel have arrived amid ongoing efforts to respond to the impact of the disaster and support affected communities.
