LET'S BUILD A HOUSE PROJECT FOR RECONSTRUCTION IN NEPAL

That this House recognises the challenge facing the people of Nepal following the earthquake that struck on 25 April 2015, last for just 45 seconds, but causing widespread devastation and changing lives forever, with over 8,000 fatalities and over six million families rendered homeless; records with concern recent estimates that one million people will still be living in temporary shelters at altitudes above 1,500 metres throughout winter 2016; welcomes the sum of over £85 million raised by the Disasters Emergency Committee's public appeal and the Department for International Development's commitment of £70 million to fund reconstruction work in Nepal; acknowledges that the reconstruction process in Nepal will be lengthy and the needs of the Nepalese people must remain at the forefront of our concerns despite pressure from events elsewhere demanding our attention; congratulates the initiative of the World Mission Council of the Church of Scotland in establishing its three-year Let's build a house project with its local partner United Mission to Nepal; and records its appreciation that the call to continue supporting the people of Nepal in rebuilding their country and their lives is being taken up by churches across Scotland, including Coldingham and St Abbs in the Scottish Borders, Neilston in East Renfrewshire and Fairmilehead in Edinburgh.