U.S. Ambassador James F. Moriarty is in far western regions of Nepal today
through Friday (September 12-15). He will visit several projects supported
by USAID/Nepal, the foreign and humanitarian assistance arm of the U.S.
Mission to Nepal.

The Ambassador also will meet district officials, political party
representatives, businessmen, Army officers, non-governmental organization
(NGO) representatives and others during the four-day visit to areas in or
near Gulariya, Nepalgunj, Dipayal, Darchula, and Mahendranagar.  Among
projects he will visit are:

       *       A flood relief program in Bardiya, where USAID's Office of
U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance has provided 900 packages of non-food
relief; 200 also have been distributed in Achham. These packs of plastic
tarpaulin, blanket, kitchen utensils and other items, and health and hygiene
kits, will benefit approximately 7,700 people (or 1,100 households).

       *       A Conflict Mitigation Program in Nepalgunj. The
USAID-supported program is implemented in 13 conflict-affected districts and
aids families who have lost a member due to the conflict; communities
affected by fear; internally displaced persons; and children victims of
conflict.   Some program elements include providing opportunities for
sustainable incomes; improving the quality of psychological, medical, legal,
and economic support for conflict victims; and working with civil society
organizations on small scale infrastructure projects.  Almost 9,000 people
have benefited from the program's psycho-social and legal aid services.

       *       An HIV/AIDS treatment center in Mahendragar, jointly funded
by USAID and DFID.  USAID also funds the local NGO that provides HIV/AIDS
patient advocacy at the hospital, and care and support at the local clinic.

Ambassador Moriarty, who is traveling with his wife Lauren, also will visit
the Mahendra Regional Campus of Tribhuvan University, where the American
Center of the U.S. Embassy recently donated a collection of approximately
2,000 books and furniture to the campus library.