Nepal begins reconstruction of heritage sites

Nepal has begun reconstruction of ancient key temples and monuments, including a UNESCO heritage site, that were damaged in a massive earthquake quake one year ago.

Nepali officials say it will take years to fully restore the South Asian country’s architectural heritage and rebuild 600,000 homes destroyed in the magnitude-7.8 quake that upended roads in the country and turned mountain villages into rubble.

Memorial services for the nearly 9,000 who died in the earthquake were held on Sunday, alongside demonstrations against the slow pace of the Nepalese recovery.

International donors have pledged $4.1 billion toward Nepal’s recovery, but only $1.3 billion has been sent to the country, with the government blamed for taking months to set up the National Reconstruction Authority.

In a statement released by the White House yesterday, National Security Council spokesperson, Ned Prince, expressed condolences for the lives lost in the quake and acknowledged that “much of the hard work of rebuilding Nepal still lies ahead.”

“We are humbled by those who risked their lives to save others, including the six United States Marines who perished in Nepal while providing relief to Nepalis in need,” he said.

In Nepal, protesters chanted “Government, where is reconstruction?” as they tried to force their way into government offices. “Open the gates of the government.”

“We are hoping that the government’s priorities and perspectives on reconstruction will soon be clear so that we can help people to rebuild and get their lives back on track as quickly as possible,” one Red Cross official in Nepal said.