WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump authorized the immediate release of $3.6 million in humanitarian aid to Nepal following devastating floods that have killed over 600 people and displaced more than 150,000, the White House announced today.
The aid package, distributed through the U.S. Agency for International Development, includes high-energy biscuits, water purification tablets, and temporary housing kits. USAID is coordinating distribution with local relief organizations and the Nepalese government to bypass bureaucratic delays.
The floods, triggered by intense monsoon rains, have submerged entire villages, destroyed agricultural land, and damaged roads and bridges across Nepal's southern plains. Access to remote areas remains a critical obstacle for rescue teams, and the scale of the disaster has overwhelmed Nepal's national capacity to respond. Kathmandu issued urgent appeals for international assistance to prevent further casualties and famine.
The United States has a long history of disaster aid to Nepal. After the 2015 earthquake, Washington provided substantial reconstruction assistance. This allocation reflects U.S. foreign policy in South Asia, where maintaining partnerships and projecting humanitarian leadership remain central strategic objectives.
USAID teams are conducting rapid assessments in the hardest-hit districts to determine longer-term recovery needs. Additional relief flights carrying medical supplies and construction materials are expected in the coming weeks. The State Department plans to brief congressional committees on the scope of the disaster and future funding needs by the end of next month.
