Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, to which areas UK funds to help with the earthquake in Nepal are being dispersed; and what steps she is taking to ensure the resources are reaching the affected areas.

UK funds are being dispersed to support post-earthquake reconstruction activities primarily in four focal districts; which are Gorkha, Dhading, Rasuwa and Nuwakot. The UK Government is also supporting the Government of Nepal’s national reconstruction priorities that help reach out to all earthquake affected districts. These include housing reconstruction coordination, assessing geological post-earthquake hazards, enrolling affected households into the housing grant process, and training builders.

DFID works hard to ensure that all of our programmes are closely monitored, and adopts a zero tolerance approach towards any form of corruption and fraud. A DFID field office in the earthquake affected areas and field visits from DFID staff monitor our partners’ delivery. All DFID reconstruction related projects have been designed with key stakeholders as well as being informed by surveys, field visits and studies conducted in the aftermath of the earthquake.