CRI听力:Nepal Aims to End Quake Relief before Monsoon Season

Authorities in Nepal are pressing to try to step up their relief efforts from last month's massive earthquake, as the monsoon season is about to begin.

More than 220 thousand people remain homeless.

Nepalese Major General Binoj Basnyat says food and shelter remain the top priority.

"We would like things to be settled down before the monsoons, which means naturally, shelter, which means tents, naturally, food to support them. And as we enter in the re-construction phase or rehabilitation phase then there are other things that will be required, which is quite natural for us to predict. So I am sure the government will come out with all the things that need to be done."

The United Nations estimates some three million people are going to require better access to tents, water, food and medicine over the next three months.

The Nepalese government has put together a two-year plan to rebuild the country's shattered public buildings, schools and infrastructure.

Phase one of the reconstruction is likely to cost around two billion US dollars.

Nepalese authorities have set aside 200 million US dollars.

For the rest, it's appealing for donations from foreign countries, aid agencies and the Nepalese people themselves.

The Chinese government has been in discussions with the Nepalese government about providing long-term assistance.