Customs checks hold up relief for Nepal quake victims: UN
Customs inspections at Kathmandu airport are holding up vital relief supplies for earthquake survivors in Nepal, a UN official said on May 2, as the death toll from the disaster a week ago passed 6,600.
United Nations Resident Representative Jamie McGoldrick said the 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 government, complaining it has received such unneeded supplies as tuna and mayonnaise, insisted its customs agents had to check all emergency shipments.
US military aircraft and personnel due to arrive on May 2 to help ferry relief supplies to stricken areas outside the capital were delayed and tentatively scheduled to arrive on May 3, a US Marines spokeswoman said.