U.S. Embassy in Nepal -- $45.1 Million total USG assistance through USAID thus far. Since the beginning of the pandemic, USAID’s COVID-19 assistance has reached over 55 percent of the population across Nepal by working with partners at the community, municipal, and federal levels to provide life-saving treatments, equipment, and services.
100 ventilators
10,000 personal protective equipment (PPE)
+ life-saving antiretroviral drugs to people living with HIV
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DoD)
$5.8 Million in funding for Nepal thus far that has enabled the DoD team to purchase PPE, breathing devices, isolation and disaster camp equipment and supplies, telemedicine equipment, COVID-19 testing supplies, handwashing stations, and medical equipment for health clinics. Within the last few weeks DoD has provided urgently needed PPE, medical supplies, high-flow oxygen therapy devices to the COVID Crisis Management Center and Ministry of Health and Population. On May 13, DoD announced an additional $2.75 million in emergency funding that will provide oxygen cylinders and liquid oxygen storage tanks.
President Biden has made clear that as long as this virus is spreading anywhere, it is a threat to people everywhere. The United States is the largest donor to COVAX, and has committed $2 billion to the program, with another $2 billion to come. Nepal was among the first in Asia to receive COVAX donations.
The United States is looking at options to share the AstraZeneca doses with other countries as they become available. It is expected there will be 60 million doses to share over the next two months. The criteria for allocating those vaccines has not yet been determined. The decision will likely be based on where needs are most acute and where they will be the most effective.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken: “I know that many countries are asking for the United States to do more, some with growing desperation because of the scope and scale of their COVID emergencies. We hear you. And I promise, we’re moving as fast as possible.”
The United States won’t trade shots in arms for political favors. This is about saving lives. We will treat our partner countries with respect; we won’t overpromise and underdeliver. We’ll maintain high standards for the vaccines that we help to bring to others, only distributing those proven to be safe and effective.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the United States has stood with the people and Government of Nepal in the ongoing fight against COVID-19, and U.S. government assistance affirms its commitment to the strong and collaborative 70-year partnership between the United States and Nepal.