HK grants USD1.2m to help Nepal quake victims

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government yesterday approved two grants totaling HKD9.345 million (USD1.2 million U) for earthquake relief in Nepal.
The government made the decision advised by the region’s Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee.
The two grants will be distributed to two agencies – one totaling HK$5.846 million to the Amity Foundation, Hong Kong and one of HK$3.499 million to Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong. The organizations will facilitate the provision of relief to the victims and help them resume their daily lives.
The grants are further to the disbursement of HK$57 million made earlier for the government of Nepal and an agency to provide emergency relief to victims affected by the earthquake, taking the accumulative value of the aid grants to HK$66.345 million.
A spokesman for the HKSAR government said that to ensure the money will be used for the designated purposes, Amity Foundation, Hong Kong and Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong would be asked to submit evaluation reports and audited accounts on the use of the grants after the relief projects have been completed.
On April 25, Nepal was struck by a 7.9-magnitude earthquake, leaving more than 8,000 people dead. A 7.4-magnitude aftershock took place on May 12, causing further casualties. Xinhua