The United States has announced USD 31 million in additional funding to support Nepal’s recovery from devastating floods, including assistance for rebuilding bridges, helping affected communities and deploying US-made drones for future disaster response efforts.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker following her meeting with Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. The latest funding takes total US assistance for Nepal’s flood response and recovery to more than USD 36 million.

USD 10 Million For Permanent Bridges

Hooker said the United States plans to work with Congress to provide USD 10 million towards permanent, custom-built bridges sourced from an American company.

According to the US Department of State, the bridges are intended to restore critical transport infrastructure damaged by the floods while also strengthening regional connectivity in affected areas.

The US also reiterated its support for communities dealing with the aftermath of the disaster and said it would continue coordinating with the Nepal government to identify areas requiring additional assistance.

USD 8 Million For Affected Communities

The US plans to provide another USD 8 million in assistance for water, sanitation and hygiene services, as well as shelter, protection, livelihoods and winterisation support.

The assistance is intended to address immediate and continuing needs among communities affected by the floods as recovery efforts progress.

Hooker also conveyed the United States’ condolences to those affected by the disaster, including the families of around 70 Americans who remain unaccounted for.

US-Made Drones For Future Disasters

As part of the package, the US Department of State plans to provide USD 13 million worth of US-made drones to strengthen Nepal’s capacity to respond to future disasters and support recovery operations.

The department said the United States would continue working closely with the Nepal government to identify and deliver further assistance where it is most needed.

Floods Killed At Least 1,451

The latest US assistance follows the floods that struck the Rasuwagadhi region near Nepal’s border with Tibet on August 26.

At least 1,451 people were killed in the disaster, while more than 6,000 people remain missing, according to the figures cited in the report.

The latest funding package brings the total US assistance for Nepal’s flood response and recovery efforts to more than USD 36 million.

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