The Disasters Emergency Committee and its members have raised £87m to provide aid in Nepal following the earthquake which struck the region 12 months ago, according to the final figures published today.

In a statement released today, the DEC confirmed that its Nepal Earthquake Appeal has now closed with £87m worth of donations being received from the UK public. This money has reached more than 1.6 million people in Nepal who were affected by the earthquake, 50 per cent more people than was originally planned.

The earthquake struck the country on 25 April 2015, killing over 8,500 people and making thousands more homeless.

Of the £87m figure, the DEC itself raised £52m, while its 13 member agencies raised a further £32m. The Department for International Development also made a £5m contribution to the DEC as part of its UK Aid Match programme.

The DEC said that, while over 80 per cent of families affected by the earthquake and subsequent shortages of food, electricity and shelter have received aid, many buildings throughout the Himalayan kingdom are still unfit for habitation and may not be rebuilt before monsoon season begins in June.

Some 26,000 people remain displaced from their homes in the region, and DEC members have said that “the government’s plans for rebuilding are far behind schedule”.

Saleh Saeed, chief executive of the DEC, said: “The past year has not been easy for survivors and at times aid workers have had to struggle to provide people with the help they need. Member agency staff and partners have hiked for up to two days, hired mules, tractors and helicopters in order to get shelter supplies, food and hygiene equipment to remote mountain villages.

“Now the even tougher task of rebuilding shattered homes and rejuvenating lost incomes is getting underway. We will continue to work with local carpenters, business people and Nepali organisations to rebuild for years to come.”

The DEC’s specific Nepal Earthquake Appeal has now closed and is no longer accepting donations.