On June 25, 2015, Secretary Kerry announced a pledge that increases the total amount of U.S. emergency relief and early recovery assistance to Nepal to $130 million. Building upon our support to date to Nepal after the April 25, 2015 earthquake, this announcement is only the beginning of our contribution and we, with the support of our Congress, will continue to work with Nepal to support its long-term earthquake recovery needs across multiple years.

Examples of our efforts include:

• Training Nepalis to rebuild seismically-stable houses in affected areas.
• Helping build temporary learning centers in areas where children are learning outside in makeshift tents. Efforts are underway to establish approximately 1,000 Temporary Learning Centers in the earthquake-affected districts.
• Helping people rebuild livelihoods by injecting cash and strengthening agricultural systems, the economic lifeblood for nearly 75 percent of the population of Nepal. USAID has already jumpstarted early recovery— our resilience and livelihood program is distributing cash for work to the hardest-hit families, so they can begin the enormous task of rebuilding damaged homes and much-needed infrastructure.
• Continuing to protect Nepal’s most vulnerable, including those susceptible to human trafficking.
• Laying the foundations for a more resilient Nepal by building institutions that can respond effectively to future disasters.

Our Commitment to Nepal Endures

Since 1951, the United States has been committed to Nepal’s development, providing more than $1.3 billion in total development assistance. The United States stood and continues to stand with Nepal since the April 2015, magnitude 7.8-earthquake struck central Nepal’s Gorkha District. We responded quickly and effectively to the earthquake emergency, and we will work with Nepal as it “builds back better.”

Together with the U.S. Government, Nepal’s many friends in the United States have shown their generosity as well since the moment the earthquake struck: from bake sales to swim meets, community groups nationwide raised funds for Nepal earthquake relief. U.S. businesses have pledged over $20 million in cash and in-kind contributions in support of relief and recovery efforts in Nepal. U.S. NGOs have provided assistance worth more than $150 million.

For more information, please visit the U.S. Embassy in Nepal at http://nepal.usembassy.gov/ and USAID at http://www.usaid.gov/nepal.