Japan delivers emergency aid to Nepal in response to Bhotekoshi River floods

KATHMANDU: Japan has delivered emergency aid to Nepal to assist communities affected by recent flash floods and landslides in Bhotekoshi and Rasuwa near the Nepal-China border.

Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Maeda Toru handed over emergency relief goods from the people and Government of Japan to Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Mahabir Pun, at the Humanitarian Staging Area of Tribhuvan International Airport on Wednesday.

The assistance package includes blankets, plastic sheets, sleeping pads, tents and portable jerry cans for distribution in the affected areas.

The handover follows recent diplomatic discussions between the two nations: during a summit telephone call on September 1 and a foreign ministers’ telephone call on August 31, the Japanese prime minister and foreign minister expressed condolences for those who lost their lives in August 26 disaster near the border and conveyed sympathies to their families and all those impacted.

In a press release, the Embassy of Japan said the Japanese prime minister and foreign minister declared that Japan 'stands in solidarity with Nepal and will do everything in its capacity to respond to the situation'.

The Government of Japan said it sincerely hopes the emergency relief supplies will help alleviate the hardships faced by those affected and wished for steady progress in local recovery and reconstruction so that victims can resume normal lives as soon as possible.