The United Kingdom has reassured that it will continue to help Nepal in its reconstruction process.

With a total commitment of £70 million to the earthquake relief effort, the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) has been one of the largest bilateral donors throughout both the immediate response phase and the difficult winter season faced by Nepal, the British Embassy said in a statement.

The British public also showed their generosity to the people of Nepal by raising over £85 million for the Disaster Emergency Committee’s Nepal appeal, of which £5 million was match-funded by the UK government.

“The UK’s efforts are increasingly focused on helping the Nepali people with the longer term recovery of their country,” said the statement, adding that this included supporting rubble clearance and the restoration of vital infrastructure such as health services and police stations, and by helping vulnerable groups, including women and girls, rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

UK is one of Nepal’s largest bilateral development partners. “The UK’s response to the Nepal earthquakes illustrates the strong friendship, mutual understanding and respect that has characterised the 200 year connection between the two countries.”