The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received Pound Sterling 1.5 million from the UN Department for International Development (DFID) for post-earthquake reconstruction work.

The WFP said the amount would be used to support Nepal government’s efforts to rebuild critical infrastructure such as trails in remote areas affected by the quake in 2015.

The new trails in Dhading, Gorkha, and Rasuwa districts will be built to withstand seasonal landslides as well as future earthquakes.

A total length of 129 km of the six trails in the mountainous districts will be repaired, while a complete engineer assessments on a further six trails (158 km) will be conducted in the areas. 

“WFP knows that access to trails helps communities reach markets and social services, and is inextricably linked to food security and economic development,” said Pippa Bradford, WFP Nepal Representative and Country Director.

WFP has been active in trail reconstruction across its long history in Nepal, most recently in its response to the 2015 earthquakes, when around 880 kilometres of trails were either reopened or rehabilitated providing access for 130,000 people.