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International Development Secretary Justine Greening announces £5 million package of support.

The Department for International Development has activated its rapid funding mechanism for charities and partners on the ground dealing with the aftermath of the Nepal earthquake, International Development Secretary Justine Greening announced yesterday.

This is part of a new £5 million package of UK support in response to the Nepal earthquake which includes:

• £3 million released under the Rapid Response Facility so partners can address immediate needs on the ground; and
• £2 million for the British Red Cross.

UK Government officials in Kathmandu and London are providing consular assistance to British nationals who have been caught up in this disaster and the Foreign Office has opened a crisis hotline for those concerned about friends or family. Britain is also sending Rapid Deployment Teams to provide assistance to British nationals.

Justine Greening said:

As the death toll rises and the scale of this devastating earthquake becomes evident, the UK is continuing to do everything it can to help all those affected by this tragedy.

I have now activated the Rapid Response Facility. This means we can fast track funding to aid workers on the ground so they can provide desperately needed supplies including clean water, shelter, household items and blankets.

We are also sending humanitarian experts from the UK to provide urgent support on the ground.

Meanwhile UK Government officials in Kathmandu and London continue to provide assistance to British nationals who have been caught up in this disaster. We will continue to do everything we can to help all those affected.

The Rapid Response Facility is a network of pre-approved specialist aid organisations and private businesses who can rapidly deliver emergency medical, water and sanitation assistance to affected people. It enables the UK Government to commit to rapid humanitarian funding to these pre-qualified partners. Responding swiftly in humanitarian disasters ensures that more lives are saved and suffering reduced.

Yesterday’s activation of the RRF follows the deployment of eight disaster response specialists from the UK. They are on their way to Nepal to assess the scale of the damage and help the Nepalese authorities direct the humanitarian response.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is providing consular assistance to British nationals involved in the earthquake. Anyone who is caught up in this incident or worried about a family member should call the FCO on +44 (0) 207 008 0000. FCO travel advice is being updated regularly.

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