International assistance sought for Nepal's reconstruction

Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has urged the international community to support the rehabilitation of the people displaced by the devastating earthquakes and to aid the government's larger reconstruction effort.

Koirala on Sunday appealed to all stakeholders to be part of the rebuilding process, e-Kantipur reported.

He said the country has entered the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase with the completion of search and rescue operations.

He urged "our friends" to support the reconstruction process "whole-heartedly".

Extending his thanks to the nations helping in search and rescue tasks, Koirala sought their involvement in the rebuilding phase too. He described the government's decision to form the National Reconstruction Fund as part of its commitment to rebuild the country and urged the international community and donors to help to handle the national crisis.

The government has already set the target of raising 200 billion Nepalese rupees (about $1 billion). It has requested the international community, donors and the private sector to contribute to the fund.

Koirala, who returned home from Indonesia two days after the April 25 quake, has been criticised for his government's lacklustre response to the disaster. After the May 12 jolt, he addressed media persons immediately.

The prime minister admitted that the government was unprepared for the calamity.

"We have had to struggle for democracy for long so we have poor logistics," he said.