Maria met with the local Nepali community in Basingstoke to discuss the grave situation caused by the continued pandemic in Nepal.
Maria welcomed the £40m of aid put in place by the Government to support the people of Nepal deal with the impact of COVID-19; this includes £15m of support to international organisation and the UN to provide shelter, nutrition and other critical needs in Nepal. There will also be practical assistance to 220,000 people, including nutrition for 120,000 pregnant women, new mothers, women and babies. There will also be water and sanitation support to 400,000 people, and 210 truckloads of relief supplies to 52 different destinations across Nepal.
Maria said, “ The global pandemic has been devastating in Nepal with many thousands of people finding it difficult to get the specialised healthcare they need. Following my meetings with local members of the Nepali community I spoke to Ministers about the need to support people in Nepal, particularly given the strong ties between our two countries. The situation has deteriorated significantly in recent weeks, so this important support package, announced by the Government, will help ensure much needed medical and humanitarian support is put in place quickly to alleviate the very real suffering created by this pandemic.”
Additionally, The UK has funded and supported the construction of an oxygen production facility at the Nepal Police Hospital in Kathmandu; The Government are a leading donor to the COVAX mechanism, which will provide vaccines for almost 20% of Nepal’s population.