27 Lawmakers Press Rubio to Expand Aid for Nepal as 75 Americans Remain Unaccounted For After Floods
Twenty-seven U.S. lawmakers are urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to significantly expand American search-and-rescue and reconstruction assistance following catastrophic flash floods that have devastated communities in Nepal and along the Nepal-China border.
In a letter to Rubio, the lawmakers called on the State Department to use every available resource to support ongoing rescue operations, locate missing people, including U.S. citizens, and help Nepal recover from the disaster.
The lawmakers’ appeal comes as Nepal continues to grapple with the aftermath of an Aug. 26 glacial collapse and landslide in the Himalayas that sent torrents of water, ice, rock, mud and debris down the Trishuli and Bhote Koshi river corridors.
The disaster destroyed homes, roads, bridges, hydropower facilities and other critical infrastructure, leaving thousands of people dead or missing. Nepal’s disaster authorities reported more than 1,300 deaths and thousands of people still unaccounted for—including 75 Americans—as of Sept. 4. Reuters reported that Nepal had suffered an estimated $2.56 billion in damage to property, housing and infrastructure, with about 20,000 homes expected to require rebuilding.
The lawmakers said the United States has provided important initial assistance but argued that the response needs to be substantially expanded given the scale of the disaster.
The State Department provided $500,000 through Catholic Relief Services for emergency shelter, relief supplies and water, sanitation and hygiene assistance. The department also announced $3.6 million in humanitarian assistance on Aug. 29.
“Nonetheless, given the unprecedented loss of life and countless missing persons, we urge the Department to do much more,” the lawmakers wrote.
The State Department provided $500,000 through Catholic Relief Services for emergency shelter, relief supplies, and water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance. The department also announced $3.6 million in humanitarian assistance on Aug. 29.
“Nonetheless, given the unprecedented loss of life and countless missing persons, we urge the Department to do much more,” the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers outlined five specific steps they want the State Department to take.
Provide Daily Updates to Families and Congress
The lawmakers called on the State Department to provide daily updates to Congress and families of missing Americans as search-and-rescue operations continue. They also urged the department to adequately staff consular hotlines and provide repatriation assistance for U.S. citizens and their families.
The lawmakers said families of missing Americans are seeking information about their loved ones and that the State Department should maintain regular communication as authorities continue searching areas affected by the floods.
The number of missing foreign nationals has remained substantial. Nepal’s disaster authorities have reported hundreds of foreign nationals among those still unaccounted for.
The lawmakers also urged the immediate deployment of a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to flood-affected communities. DARTs are designed to provide rapid disaster assistance, including support for search and rescue, logistics, medical services, and coordination with local authorities and humanitarian organizations. The lawmakers said the scale of the catastrophe warrants deployment “as soon as possible.”
The lawmakers urged the State Department to coordinate with other U.S. government agencies and commercial companies to deploy advanced technology to help locate missing people. They specifically called for the use of high-altitude assets, thermal and infrared drones, satellite imagery, and other aerial surveillance capabilities.
The lawmakers said the State Department should work with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and other Defense Department agencies to securely share geospatial and aerial imagery with first responders, humanitarian organizations, and local governments. They also urged the department to coordinate with commercial satellite companies to make unclassified, updated imagery available to rescue teams.
In addition, the lawmakers asked the State Department to explore the use of phone-location data to help locate missing individuals.
“These tools can save lives by providing geographical awareness for safe and efficient rescue operations,” the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers also called on the State Department to engage disaster authorities in Nepal and the People’s Republic of China, as well as international partners and donor countries, to ensure full access to affected areas.
The lawmakers said diplomatic engagement could help ensure that rescue teams have access to all search zones and facilitate the exchange of information about missing U.S. citizens.
The lawmakers’ request focuses on both immediate humanitarian needs and Nepal’s long-term recovery. They urged the State Department to consider additional International Disaster Assistance funding for search and rescue, water and sanitation, food, and transportation.
They also called for a long-term U.S. reconstruction plan to help Nepal rebuild communities, restore infrastructure, and improve resilience against future disasters.
The lawmakers noted that the United States is not the only country providing assistance. The letter cited a £5 million ($6.79 million) British aid package, $1 million in assistance from South Korea, emergency supplies from India, and relief from China and the Red Cross Society of China, alongside support from the United Nations, World Bank, and nongovernmental organizations.
The lawmakers welcomed the U.S. government’s initial response but said the scale of the disaster requires a broader effort.
“We urge the State Department to take a leading role in the search and rescue efforts, find all missing Americans, and help rebuild communities devastated by this tragedy,” they wrote.
The letter was signed by Reps. Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Suhas Subramanyam, Yvette D. Clarke, Lateefah Simon, Jasmine Crockett, Nydia M. Velázquez, Rashida Tlaib, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Ilhan Omar, Pramila Jayapal, Stephen F. Lynch, Shri Thanedar, Jesús G. “Chuy” García, James P. McGovern, Kevin Mullin, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Eric Sorensen, Robert Garcia, Adelita S. Grijalva, Sylvia R. Garcia, Jan Schakowsky, Jennifer L. McClellan, Thomas R. Suozzi, Sarah Elfreth, Marc A. Veasey, and Yassamin Ansari.