Customs checks hold up relief for Nepal quake victims
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Kathmandu, May 04 (ANI): Customs inspections at Kathmandu airport have been holding up vital relief supplies for earthquake survivors in Nepal, international aid agencies said as the death toll from the disaster eight days ago passed 7,000. The United Nations said the Nepali government must loosen its normal customs restrictions to deal with the increasing flow of relief material now pouring in from abroad and piling up at the airport. But the country's government, complaining it has received such unneeded supplies as tuna and mayonnaise, insisted its customs agents had to check all emergency shipments. Nepal's Civil Aviation Secretary, who is in charge of the emergency centre at Kathmandu airport, said only a limited amount of aid had arrived. Nepal lifted import taxes on tarpaulins and tents on Friday but a home ministry spokesman said all goods coming in from overseas had to be inspected. Shrestha accused some countries of paying lip service to the idea of aid, bringing in planes primarily to evacuate their nationals.
