U.S. Announces Over $3.6M in Humanitarian Aid for Flood-Hit Nepal
Exterior of the U.S. Department of State Harry S. Truman Building, Washington, D.C. (Official State Department photo by Linda D. Epstein)
The United States has announced more than $3.6 million in additional life-saving humanitarian assistance for flood-hit Nepal, including emergency food aid for up to 10,000 affected households for as long as three months.
The latest assistance, announced Saturday by the U.S. Department of State, follows a $500,000 emergency aid package announced earlier this week. However, it remains unclear whether the $3.6 million figure is in addition to or inclusive of the initial $500,000.
The State Department also said approximately 90 Americans may have been affected by flooding in the Nepal-China border region and confirmed that three U.S. citizens have been safely rescued in Nepal.
In response to an inquiry from NepYork, a State Department spokesperson said the department had received no reports of U.S. citizen deaths.
“The State Department is aware of approximately 90 Americans who may be impacted by the floods in the Nepal-China cross-border region and is closely tracking the situation. We can confirm that three American citizens have been safely rescued in Nepal. We are not aware of any U.S. citizen deaths at this time,” the spokesperson said.
The State Department’s estimate of approximately 90 Americans who may have been affected is broader than the number of U.S. citizens reported missing by Nepal Police.
Nepal Police have released the names of 65 U.S. citizens reported missing following catastrophic flooding along the Bhote Koshi River and in other disaster-affected areas. Search-and-rescue operations were continuing across parts of Nepal.
The Nepal Tourism Board has also confirmed that three U.S. citizens have been rescued or have made contact following the disaster, consistent with the State Department’s confirmation of three Americans safely rescued in Nepal.
“There is no higher priority for us than the safety of American citizens,” the State Department said. “Our embassies in Nepal and China are working closely to assist Americans and support disaster relief efforts.”
“The United States is standing with the people of Nepal by providing more than $3.6 million worth of life-saving humanitarian assistance, including up to three months of emergency food assistance to up to 10,000 flood-affected households,” the department said.
On Tuesday, the United States announced $500,000 in emergency humanitarian assistance for communities affected by flooding in Rasuwa District and downstream areas.
According to the Department of State, the funding, provided through its global award with Catholic Relief Services, will support emergency shelter, relief supplies, and water, sanitation and hygiene services in affected communities. The department also said it was closely monitoring conditions and deploying a disaster-response adviser to assist with relief efforts.
In its Aug. 26 media note, the State Department expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the disaster.
“The United States extends its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the devastating flash floods in the Rasuwa district of Nepal,” the department said. “Our thoughts are with all those affected by this disaster.”
Trump Says U.S. Will Provide Whatever Assistance Nepal Requests
President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States had offered Nepal any assistance it needed, describing the flooding and debris flows as an unusually destructive disaster that swept away entire communities.
Speaking to reporters during an Oval Office event, Trump said the United States was communicating directly with Nepal’s leadership while relief and search-and-rescue efforts continued.
“That’s terrible,” Trump said. “And we’ve called Nepal, and we’ve offered any help that they need. You know, we have a very good relationship with Nepal, and that was a brutal — that wasn’t just, that was mud and water as a mixture. Nobody’s ever seen anything quite like that where powerful, strong, well-built buildings were wiped out like they were toothpicks.”
Trump said the administration was dispatching aid and had told Nepali officials that Washington would provide whatever assistance was requested.
“That’s a terrible thing,” Trump added. “We are sending aid, and we’ve spoken to the leadership, and we let them know anything they want, we’ll have.”
The president also cited concerns about American citizens in the affected areas, saying federal officials were still working to establish a full accounting of U.S. nationals who may have been caught in the disaster.
“There were 50, maybe 60 Americans over there who we haven’t gotten the full list yet, but hopefully they’re okay,” Trump said. “But that looks like something that people will not be — somebody will be lost, unfortunately.”
Trump’s earlier estimate of 50 to 60 Americans came before the State Department’s latest assessment that approximately 90 Americans may have been affected by the flooding.
Rubio Says U.S. Stands Ready to Help
Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously said that the United States stood ready to support Nepal’s government with humanitarian assistance.
“We express our solidarity and are united in prayer for the Nepali people following the devastating floods,” Rubio said. “The Department of State stands ready to support the Government of Nepal with needed humanitarian assistance.”