U.S. PROVIDES FUNDS TO FEED HUNGRY IN REMOTE NEPAL

August 1, 2006   

The U.S. Embassy is providing $250,000 to the United Nations World Food Program’s Emergency Operation through USAID to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of food-insecure, drought-affected communities in 10 districts of mid-west and far-west Nepal.  

The ten districts, which are severely affected by drought, require food assistance immediately. In these areas, there has been insufficient rainfall for the last 8 years.  This year more than 90 percent of this region is barren, with little to no rice or wheat production. A lack of transportation infrastructure and years of conflict have exacerbated this situation, and there is almost no food available in the regional markets.  In total, more than 200,000 people are currently suffering from lack of adequate food supplies.

USAID assistance will support the United Nations World Food Program to airlift food to these remote districts to relieve the immediate need.  This program will provide a two-month food ration to 225,000 people in the affected 10 regions.

USAID provides assistance from the American people to help people in other countries struggling to build better lives- whether it means recovering from a disaster or striving to create a free and democratic nation. USAID/Nepal, part of the U.S. Mission to Nepal, has provided development assistance in the areas of economic growth, democracy and governance, peace building, health and family planning, and humanitarian aid to the people of Nepal for more than 53 years. 

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