Press Release issued by Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations, New York on 15 May 2015
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The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), at its 90th Plenary meeting today, unanimously adopted a resolution entitled ‘Strengthening emergency relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction in response to the devastating effects of the earthquake in Nepal’ (as contained in the document A/69/L.66), under the agenda item 69 (c): ‘Special economic assistance to individual countries or region’. The resolution was introduced by the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Spain, His Excellency Roman Oyarzun Marchesi, on behalf of friends of Nepal, with a co-sponsorship of 127 countries.
Through today’s resolution, the UNGA affirms the leading role and the primary responsibility of the Government of Nepal, with adequate support and cooperation from the international community, in the humanitarian response and in the rehabilitation, recovery, reconstruction and development plans for Nepal, and calls on the international community to provide support during the three months period of the UN’s Flash Appeal and beyond. It also emphasizes the importance of building resilience and strengthening national capacities at all levels and of linking relief with rehabilitation and development from very early on.
The UNGA emphasizes the need for consolidated efforts of the international community to maintain its focus on sustaining the support for the medium- and long-term rehabilitation, reconstruction and risk reduction priorities as well as greater resilience defined and led by the Government of Nepal.
The UNGA further stresses, among other matters, the need for restoration of the monuments and sites of historical, cultural and archaeological significance including the World Heritage sites and urges the Member States to share their expertise and extend necessary cooperation to preserve the ancient cultural heritage of Nepal.
His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations (UNSG) gave a graphic briefing about the dire situation on the ground, including in most difficult places hit by the earthquake in Nepal and made a strong call to the Member States for financial support. He praised the resilience of the Nepalese people and the leadership of the Government of Nepal during the crisis and also requested the international community to support Nepal’s efforts for long-term rehabilitation, reconstruction and rebuilding.
The meeting was opened with a statement from the UNGA President in which he outlined the post-earthquake needs of Nepal and called for urgent assistance and support to the victims of the disaster.
After the resolution was adopted, several delegations spoke expressing their solidarity with Nepal in this time of distress and also outlining their respective country’s support for the cause so far and for future.
Speaking on behalf of the Government of Nepal at the end of the meeting, His Excellency Durga Prasad Bhattarai, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations, thanked all friends of Nepal for their sympathy and solidarity, appreciated President of the UNGA for convening the meeting and UN Secretary-General for his comprehensive briefing, expressed gratitude to Spain for coordinating and introducing the resolution, and all Member States for their global solidarity with Nepal as expressed by the unanimous adoption of the resolution. He also assured all friends of Nepal that, with all their support, the Nepalese people will emerge stronger from this crisis.
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The resolution is a culmination of the collective effort at the UN Headquarters for the past three weeks coordinated by the Permanent Mission of Spain on behalf of the friends of Nepal and the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN in New York, to garner immediate, short, medium and long-term assistance so that the relief, recovery, rehabilitation, rebuilding and reconstruction needs of Nepal could be met in the wake of the devastating earthquakes this month and last. The resolution seeks to facilitate global as well as regional level initiatives to support Nepal.
Over the past two weeks, the Permanent Mission of Nepal has participated at detailed briefings in New York, organised by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) as well as jointly organized by UNDP and OCHA. The meetings were briefed by the Permanent Representative of Nepal as well as, directly or through video link by the Under-Secretary-General and
Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs in New York, UNDP Regional Director in Tokyo, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Kathmandu and UNDP Surge Team members who recently returned to New York from Kathmandu.
Ambassador Bhattarai and senior diplomats of the Permanent Mission of Nepal also met with His Excellency Mr. Sam Kahamba Kutesa, President of the UN General Assembly and His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon, UNSG, separately, during the period in effort to step up support to Nepal. They both have appreciated the efforts of the Government of Nepal and expressed their continued commitment to do utmost in this connection.
Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations
New York
15 May 2015