UN aid chief 'concerned' Nepal delaying deliveries

May 02, 2015 21:49

The UN's humanitarian chief said today she was "extremely concerned" that Nepal's customs authorities were slowing the delivery of quake aid, and had urged the prime minister to fix the problem.

There have been numerous reports of foreign aid getting stuck at Kathmandu's small international airport or even turned back at the border with India by customs officials.

"I was extremely concerned to hear reports that customs was taking such a long time. I was able to raise this with the prime minister this morning," Amos told AFP at the end of a visit to Nepal after a 7.8-magnitude quake that has killed thousands and left many more homeless.

Amos said she had reminded Prime Minister Sushil Koirala that Nepal had signed an agreement with the United Nations in 2007 that provides for simpler and faster customs clearance for relief aid in the event of a disaster.

"He has undertaken to ensure that happens, so I hope that from now we will see an improvement in those administrative issues."

Nepal's government has faced criticism for the slow pace of relief efforts, with many remote communities yet to receive any aid a week after the quake struck.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

I wear a watch worth Rs 15L: Cong Indore candidate rejects 'deal' with BJP

'If a person wanted to contest from such a difficult seat, then it is meaningless to say that he is afraid of losing elections'

Over 130 schools in Delhi-NCR get bomb threat; IS angle suspected

The Delhi Police said it has conducted a thorough check of all schools that received the bomb threat but found nothing.

Prajwal Revanna speaks for 1st time over sex videos row

The MP who is seeking re-election from Hassan on a JD-S ticket, shared a letter by his lawyer Arun G to the Deputy Superintendent of Police of the SIT, in which he has sought seven days' time to appear before the official because he is...

Prez offers prayers at Ram temple in Ayodhya

This was Murmu's first visit to Ayodhya since the newly-built Ram temple's consecration ceremony was held on January 22.

Godrej split: Who gets to keep what

Jamshyd Naoroji Godrej and his sister Smita Crishna Godrej-controlled Godrej & Boyce will hold the exclusive construction rights over a vast land bank, including a prime 3,000 acre-property in Mumbai, they got as part of the family...