- The US state department announced releasing $500,000 in emergency funds for Nepal flood relief.
- Aid experts denounced the initial response as 'embarrassing' and 'pitiful'.
- The US contribution has been upped to $3.6m to feed 10,000 affected households for up to three months.
- Specialists suggest even that contribution is inadequate, citing the dismantling of USAID after Trump's return.
- The state department countered that the initial sum was designed to get immediate assistance moving and insisted that USAID's dismantling had not slowed the response.
- Foreign aid specialists highlighted the initial $500,000 sum as symbolic of the inadequacy of current US efforts compared with what would have been offered before USAID was dissolved.
- A former head of USAID’s disaster response team called the announcement 'embarrassing' for the United States and a slap at Nepal.
- Under USAID, the amount would have been decided by a disaster assistance response team, which would have been on the ground immediately to assess needs.
Experts have condemned the U.S. government's initial response to the Nepal flood disaster as inadequate, criticizing the initial $500,000 aid as 'embarrassing' and 'pitiful.' The U.S. has since increased its contribution to $3.6 million, aimed at assisting 10,000 households with food and emergency supplies.12467
The U.S. State Department claims the initial funding was intended to facilitate immediate assistance while assessments were conducted. However, seasoned humanitarian aid specialists argue that this response is a stark contrast to previous U.S. aid efforts, particularly before the dismantling of USAID, which was an independent agency until July 2025.58
A former head of USAID’s disaster response team, known as “Mr. Disaster,” remarked that the initial aid amount reflects a significant decline in U.S. humanitarian efforts. He stated, “It’s embarrassing for the United States and a bit of a slap at Nepal.” Under USAID, disaster response teams would have been deployed immediately to assess needs, leveraging their established relationships in Nepal, a country frequently affected by natural disasters.
Despite the increase to $3.6 million, experts maintain that the U.S. response remains inadequate compared to historical standards, raising concerns about the future of U.S. foreign aid capabilities following the restructuring of its aid organizations.
“The US contribution was later increased to $3.6m to feed 10,000 affected households for up to three months, but specialists say even that is inadequate. The state department countered that the initial sum was designed to get immediate assistance moving while assessments were under way.”
The Guardian
