UK provides $14 million to Nepal elections

Kathmandu, Apr 5: The United Kingdom has announced a grant of 14 million dollars to support Nepal's elections to be held on April 10.

The assistance will also be used to strengthen the peace process and improve human rights for the people of Nepal, the UK government's Department for International Development (DFID) stated in a press release today. British Ambassador to Nepal Dr Andrew Hall said, ''The UK is pleased to support peace and development in Nepal, and both are vital for a new Nepal to be created.'' ''All of Nepal is looking forward to the elections on 10th April, although we deplore the levels of violence and intimidation taking place across the country, and call on all parties to campaign peacefully,'' Dr Hall said.

The Head of DFID Nepal Bella Bird said the UK is providing the assistance in support of the elections and for other key areas of the peace process, as well as efforts to improve human rights and ensure those who committed human rights abuses in the past are brought to justice.

The money will go to the government's Nepal Peace Trust Fund, the UN Peace Fund and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the statement said.

The UK is the largest bilateral donor to Nepal with a 120 million dollar contribution in 2007-08.

UNI