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| One month on: Nepal calls for direct earthquake funding | One month on: Nepal calls for direct earthquake funding |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| One month after the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Nepal, the country's finance minister has called for more direct aid funding. | One month after the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Nepal, the country's finance minister has called for more direct aid funding. |
| Dr Ram Sharan Mahat told the BBC less than 10% of the money spent on relief by his government came from overseas. | Dr Ram Sharan Mahat told the BBC less than 10% of the money spent on relief by his government came from overseas. |
| His comments come as Nepal's government faces growing criticism over its handling of the crisis. | |
| Dr Mahat said he hoped future international donations would be managed directly by his government. | Dr Mahat said he hoped future international donations would be managed directly by his government. |
| The earthquake that hit on 25 April, and a second major tremor on 12 May, killed more than 8,600 people and brought down buildings in Kathmandu and the country's central districts. | The earthquake that hit on 25 April, and a second major tremor on 12 May, killed more than 8,600 people and brought down buildings in Kathmandu and the country's central districts. |
| Shelter materials and food aid have been slow to reach some areas, and many Nepalese have complained that the government is not doing enough to help those affected. | Shelter materials and food aid have been slow to reach some areas, and many Nepalese have complained that the government is not doing enough to help those affected. |
| As aftershocks continue to be felt, thousands of people are still living in make-shift tents and there are fears these will not survive the summer monsoon, which is due to start next month. | As aftershocks continue to be felt, thousands of people are still living in make-shift tents and there are fears these will not survive the summer monsoon, which is due to start next month. |
| There are also fears the rainy season will bring further landslides and the threat of disease. | There are also fears the rainy season will bring further landslides and the threat of disease. |
| Dr Mahat said he recognised there were complaints over the way the government had handled the aid effort. | Dr Mahat said he recognised there were complaints over the way the government had handled the aid effort. |
| "People are still under tents in the open parade ground and they cannot go back home," he said. | "People are still under tents in the open parade ground and they cannot go back home," he said. |
| "Some people have not received the relief materials they expected. You cannot satisfy everybody." | "Some people have not received the relief materials they expected. You cannot satisfy everybody." |
| But, he said, his government's ability to act had been hampered by international aid agencies who are working independently of government structures. | But, he said, his government's ability to act had been hampered by international aid agencies who are working independently of government structures. |
| He said much of the hundreds of millions of dollars being raised around the world for quake victims was being spent directly by organisations such as the United Nations and aid agencies. | He said much of the hundreds of millions of dollars being raised around the world for quake victims was being spent directly by organisations such as the United Nations and aid agencies. |
| The United Nations has appealed for $423m (£273m) to be able to provide up to two million survivors with basic relief such as tents or tarpaulin sheets, dry food rations, safe drinking water and toilets for the next three months. | The United Nations has appealed for $423m (£273m) to be able to provide up to two million survivors with basic relief such as tents or tarpaulin sheets, dry food rations, safe drinking water and toilets for the next three months. |
| The organisation's Financial Tracking System shows that $92.4m has been raised so far - only 22% of the required funds. | The organisation's Financial Tracking System shows that $92.4m has been raised so far - only 22% of the required funds. |
| "The international community provided relief materials, the services and some goods but they didn't give money - they have their own institutions and agencies to deliver the services," said Dr Mahat. | "The international community provided relief materials, the services and some goods but they didn't give money - they have their own institutions and agencies to deliver the services," said Dr Mahat. |
| "It would be better if it had come through the government - that way we would have equitably distributed the relief materials to all the people." | "It would be better if it had come through the government - that way we would have equitably distributed the relief materials to all the people." |
| In the past, Nepal has been criticised by international donors for its poor governance and high-level of corruption. It ranks 126th out of 174 countries on the 2014 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index. | In the past, Nepal has been criticised by international donors for its poor governance and high-level of corruption. It ranks 126th out of 174 countries on the 2014 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index. |
| But international aid organisations, which have been working in Nepal for the past four decades, have also been criticised for wasting money on effectual projects. | But international aid organisations, which have been working in Nepal for the past four decades, have also been criticised for wasting money on effectual projects. |
| As well as government and international relief efforts, much of the aid being provided in the earthquake-hit districts is coming from local volunteers who have banded together to provide food and help build shelters. | As well as government and international relief efforts, much of the aid being provided in the earthquake-hit districts is coming from local volunteers who have banded together to provide food and help build shelters. |