UN Slashes Budget To UNMIN In Nepal

U.N. Slashes Budget To UNMIN In Nepal

February 28, 2007 11:52 a.m. EST


Ghanashyam Ojha - All Headline News South Asia Correspondent
Kathmandu, Nepal (AHN) - The United Nations has slashed the financial assistance to Nepal for the peace process and preparation of the Constituent Assembly elections by half a million U.S. dollars.

The budgetary slash came following a reduction in the size of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), set up to assist in peace process.

Nepal's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Madhu Raman Acharya said the assistance has been reduced to $9.5 million from the previously pledged $10 million.

"With the slash in aid, the size of UNMIN task force has also been trimmed down," he said.

He said the details of the budget cut will be presented before a meeting of the budgetary committee of the U.N. later Wednesday.

Acharya said the 1,260-strong UNMIN taskforce will now be reduced to 1,080 following the cut in the budget.