US Pledges $3.5 Million Aid After Nepal Floods

Devastating flooding and landslides across Nepal and Tibet have left thousands of people missing. The United States Department of State has pledged more than $3.5 million in humanitarian aid to support relief efforts, with an initial $500,000 distributed through Catholic Relief Services to provide food, drinking water, and sanitation kits.

Logistical challenges hinder the response, as nearly 40 kilometers of critical roadways connecting affected regions to Kathmandu have been washed away. Survivors are currently seeking shelter in private homes and schools. Senthil Kumar Gurunathan of Catholic Relief Services noted that survivors have "literally lost everything they had" while fleeing their homes.

U.S. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott reported that nine Americans have been safely evacuated, though approximately 85 U.S. citizens remain unaccounted for. Pigott stated that officials are "currently unaware of any U.S. citizen deaths at this time." Meanwhile, the Government of Nepal is prioritizing the search for missing persons as aid organizations begin planning for long-term recovery, including mental health support and winterization.