United States pledges additional $31 million for Nepal's flood recovery

The United States Department of State (USA) announced an additional $31 million in assistance to support Nepal’s recovery from devastating floods, following a meeting on September 22, 2026 between Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker and Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal in New York, according to a press release from the Office of the Spokesman of the U.S. Department of State. Under Secretary Hooker extended the United States’ heartfelt sympathies to all those affected by the disaster. The new commitment brings total U.S. assistance to Nepal’s flood response to more than $36 million.

During the meeting, Under Secretary Hooker acknowledged the families of the approximately 70 Americans who remain unaccounted for in the aftermath of the floods. The announcement was made on the sidelines of engagements in New York. It reflects continued coordination between Washington and Kathmandu on humanitarian priorities.

Under Secretary Hooker announced plans to work with Congress to provide $10 million in funding for permanent, custom-built bridges, which the United States is sourcing from a U.S. company. These bridges will restore critical transportation infrastructure in affected areas and strengthen regional connectivity. The measure targets the reestablishment of routes damaged by the floods.

The Under Secretary also announced plans to provide $8 million in additional assistance for water, sanitation, and hygiene, as well as shelter, protection, livelihoods, and winterization support for affected communities. In addition, the Department plans to provide $13 million in U.S.-made drones to better support future disaster recovery efforts. The package combines immediate humanitarian relief with tools intended for longer-term response capacity.

With this funding announcement, total United States assistance to Nepal’s flood response and recovery efforts now exceeds $36 million. The United States will continue to work closely with the Government of Nepal to identify and deliver additional assistance where it is most needed. The commitment underscores ongoing bilateral cooperation on disaster recovery.