U.S. provides humanitarian assistance to Nepal

The U.S. government and military are both actively providing assistance to Nepal after the April 25 earthquake, with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) providing $12.5 million in funds. USAID has also sent a 129 person Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to aid in search and rescue operations, and is distributing shelter kits and needed supplies through partner organizations.

The emergency assistance builds on previous USAID efforts to train local authorities on disaster preparedness, and according to Jeremy Konyndyk, Director of USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, these past efforts “now provide a strong foundation for the relief effort and Nepal’s recovery.”

The Department of Defense (DoD) is also involved in the recovery efforts, and sent a Joint Humanitarian Assessment Support Team (JHAST) to Nepal to advise USAID’s DART on DoD capabilities and assets available to support the Nepal earthquake response. A U.S. Special Forces team that was training in Nepal at the time of the earthquake has also transitioned to help with relief efforts.

For more information about U.S. efforts to assist Nepal, please follow the links below.
U.S. Military Role in Assistance to Nepal, U.S. Pacific Command
U.S. Humanitarian Assistance to Nepal Totals $12.5 Million, U.S. Pacific Command
USAID Announces Additional Assistance for Nepal Earthquake Response, USAID