Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund receives Rs 6.36bn for flood relief operations

KATHMANDU: Total contributions to the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund for flood relief operations have reached Rs 6.36 billion, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) reported on its official portal.

Of the total, Rs 5.87 billion has been deposited in Nepali currency across accounts at nine commercial banks, while $3.19 million sits in foreign-currency accounts. Before the flash flood on August 26, the fund held a base balance of about Rs 2.17 billion.

The fund recorded its largest single-day collection on Monday, receiving Rs 602.2 million from 83 industrialists, business owners and individuals through the Finance Minister. Donations handed over via the Finance Minister over four days totalled Rs 1.3075 billion and are included in the overall balance.

National relief contributions include roughly Rs 360 million from federal employees’ salary deductions. Immediate cash allocations to affected districts are Rs 10 million each for Rasuwa and Nuwakot, and Rs 5 million for Dhading. At provincial level, Karnali Province committed a fresh allocation of Rs 5 million, while Lumbini Province previously provided Rs 30 million, with its Chief Minister and ministers pledging half a month’s salary.

International assistance commitments continue to grow, led by China and India with six commitments each. The United States has recorded three commitments, while Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank have pledged two commitments each. Single commitments have been logged from Japan, Qatar, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Sri Lanka, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, alongside a multi-country initiative involving Japan, Qatar, Singapore and others.

The OPMCM publishes full details of incoming domestic and international donations on its official portal.