WFP distributed quality rice after taking back 120 sacks of rotten rice, said Marsingh Gurung, a local. “Three tractors carrying good rice came and took back the rotten rice,” he said.

The rice distributed in Laprak in mid June was found black, rotten and clustered while opening the sacks. The substandard and inedible rice was inspected and confirmed by WFP officials and a team of Chief District Officer of Gorkha. A parliamentary probe team had carried out an onsite inspection and prepared a report that concluded the rice was rotten.

Government has asked the concerned authorities to take action against the WFP officials after it was proven that the rice were rotten.

The UN humanitarian organisation fighting hunger in the world has been distributing rice to earthquake survivors in coordination with Save the Children and Red Cross Society.

The collected rotten rice will be destroyed in the presence of government representatives, a high ranking official at WFP said.

Meanwhile, Laprak locals have taken exception to UN official John Ging’s comments that Nepali media did ‘nonsense reporting’. Ging is Director at UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).

“The allegations made against Nepali media should be taken back,” said Santosh Gurung, a local leader of Nepali Congress. “The word ‘nonsense’ should be taken back,” he said.

Organising a a press meet, Gurung warned that the WFP could depart from Nepal if not necessary in Nepal as the demands for assistance are coming from many places around the world.