Minister for Home Affairs Janardan Sharma has said that relief materials will be dolled-out in the flood-affected areas only by the government agencies, barring any individuals and the non-governmental organisations from distributing.

A meeting of the Natural Disaster and Rescue Committee held at the Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday, Minister Sharma directed Chief Secretary and authorities concerned to distribute the cash and relief materials from the government agencies provided by the non-governmental organisations.

“A condition should be made that if any person or organisation want to provide cash assistance to the flood-affected people they should deposit it in the Prime Minister Natural Disaster Rescue Fund,” he said, adding, “There is a high chance that some areas will get double assistance and some will be empty handed if the materials are distributed by non-governmental organisations.” 

A Relief Collection Coordination Committee under the headship of Joint Secretary Kedar Neupane of Ministry of Home Affairs was formed following the meeting of the Natural Disaster and Rescue Committee.

The Home Ministry urged one and all to provide tarpaulins, utensils, rice, salt, cooking oil and lentils as relief materials through the coordination committee.

During the meeting, Minister Sharma said that old clothes will not be collected instead new clothes will be collected for the distribution.

Moreover, he said that the relief materials received by the coordination committee will be stored at Nepal Food Corporation and godown of Tribhuvan International Airport.