Two U.S. Military Cargo Aircraft Deliver Additional Aid to Flood-Hit Nepal, Adding to $3.6 Million in U.S. Assistance
U.S. military cargo aircraft deliver disaster-response supplies to flood-hit Nepal following the Aug. 26 Bhote Koshi floods in Rasuwa. Photo: U.S. Embassy Nepal.
The United States has delivered additional humanitarian and disaster-response supplies to Nepal following the devastating Aug. 26 Bhote Koshi floods in Rasuwa District, the U.S. Embassy in Nepal said Wednesday.
Two U.S. military cargo aircraft delivered 5,000 specialized disaster-victim recovery supplies, 500 first-aid kits, stretchers and front-end loaders to support Nepal-led search, rescue and recovery operations, the embassy said in a post on X.
The shipment was sent in response to a request from the Nepal government and is part of more than $3.6 million in U.S. humanitarian assistance announced for the flood response.
More than 40 tons of emergency relief supplies from the American humanitarian organization Samaritan’s Purse also arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday, the embassy said. The shipment includes water filters, tarps, blankets, hygiene kits and solar lights intended to support 2,600 families in flood-affected areas through local organizations working on the ground.
Previously, the United States had 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 State Department said the $3.6 million total includes an initial $500,000 emergency assistance package announced Aug. 26.
That initial funding, provided through the State Department’s global award with Catholic Relief Services, was intended to support emergency shelter, relief supplies, and water, sanitation and hygiene services for communities affected by flooding in Rasuwa District and downstream areas. The department said it was closely monitoring conditions and deploying a disaster-response adviser to assist with relief efforts.
The United States has also offered to provide search-and-rescue assistance, including the possible deployment of rescue teams, if formally requested by the Nepal government, according to a State Department spokesperson.
“The United States has offered to provide search and rescue assistance,” the spokesperson said in response to questions from NepYork. “We stand ready to support search and rescue efforts in coordination with the Government of Nepal, should such assistance be requested.”
The U.S. assistance is being coordinated with the Nepal government and other partners, the embassy said.
The first U.S. shipment arrived in Nuwakot and Rasuwa between Aug. 29 and 30, according to the U.S. Embassy in Nepal. Sent by Chargé d’Affaires Scott Urbom, it included more than 2.5 tons of food supplies for 400 people in Rasuwa and Nuwakot, as well as 500 blankets, 500 mosquito nets, and 500 insulating foam sleeping mats.
In its Aug. 26 media note, the State Department expressed condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed in the disaster. It said the U.S. Embassy in Kathmandu was working with local authorities to locate and assist U.S. citizens in affected areas.
President Donald Trump said last week that the United States had offered Nepal any assistance it needed, describing the flooding and debris flows as unusually destructive.
Speaking during an Oval Office event, Trump said Washington was communicating directly with Nepal’s leadership while relief and search-and-rescue operations continued.
“That’s terrible,” Trump said. “And we’ve called Nepal, and we’ve offered any help that they need.”
Trump said the administration was sending aid and had told Nepali officials that the United States would provide whatever assistance was requested. He also cited concerns about American citizens in the affected areas, saying federal officials were working to account for U.S. nationals who may have been caught in the disaster.