Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal thanked the United Arab Emirates for its new commitment of $ 25 million in financial assistance for Nepal's flood recovery, during a meeting with UAE Deputy Prime MInister and Foreign MInister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in New York.
The two ministers met at the UAE's Permanent Mission to the United Nations on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly, according to Nepal's Permanent Mission in New York. Khanal thanked the UAE government and people, on behalf of Nepal, for their solidarity and sympathy for communities hit by the floods. He also thanked the UAE for the humanitarian assistance it had already provided and for its recent commitment of an additional $25 million.
Beyond the flood aid, the two ministers stressed the need to strengthen Nepal-UAE relations and expand cooperation in areas of mutual benefit. Discussions on the topic of labour, trade, investment, tourism, renewable energy, connectivity and cooperation at the United Nations. Khanal also held talks with Armenia's Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in New York on the same sidelines.
UAE, after the August 26 disaster responded quickly with allocation of $10 million in humanitarian support on the directive of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It then send aid aircrafts, first with 83 tonnes of food and shelter materials and the second with 45 tonnesof supplies including food, essential goods and power generators. A specialist mission followed, with members from the Joint Operations Command, the Dubai Police Search and the Rescue Team and the UAE Aid Agency. A third aircraft carrying the rescue team was received in Kathmandu by Science and Technology Minister Mahabir Pun and UAE Ambassador Abdullah Al Shamsi
.Nepal is among 16 countries the UAE has given humanitarian support this year.
Nepali residents in the UAE have also been raising money for the PM Disaster Relief Fund.
This is the latest in a week of donor commitments in New York, alongside the US pledge of $31 million.
