Canada to help rebuild quake-hit Nepal

Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC) has announced to help rebuild Nepal following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit the Himalayan nation in April 2015, a statement said here on Tuesday.

The $1.2 million investment that was announced by IDRC's President Jean Lebel and Ambassador of Canada to Nepal Nadir Patel on Monday will restore housing, public buildings, and infrastructure, as well as promote better mitigation and management for future natural disasters.

Working with local partner the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), this partnership will support rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in Dhungentar ward.

The IDRC has been working on climate and water related challenges in Nepal for more than 20 years.

The initiative will strengthen the capacities of communities and institutions for disaster risk management and climate change adaptation and build eco-friendly, climate and earthquake resilient homes, the IDRC said in the statement.

The Canadian government has so far provided $23 million in humanitarian assistance in response to the crisis. The fund has been directed to experienced humanitarian partners, including UN humanitarian agencies, Canadian NGOs and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), it said.

"This initiative will support mountain communities in their rebuilding and rehabilitation efforts following the earthquake of 2015," the statement quoting Lebel said.

"Canada remains committed to work with Nepal in supporting the most vulnerable people affected by this tragedy. The ICIMOD project supported by IDRC will help in the long-term rehabilitation of the affected people," Patel said.

ICIMOD Director General David Molden said the whole Hindu Kush Himalayas is a high hazard region for earthquakes and the lessons learned need to be transferred to other countries in the region.