Kathmandu, Oct 29 (PTI) The United States is providing more than USD 150 million worth of helicopters, drones and riverboats to Nepal to strengthen the Himalayan nation's disaster preparedness and response capabilities, the US Embassy here said on Thursday.
US Charge d’Affaires Megan Bouldin highlighted the assistance during a meeting with Nepal's Chief of the Army Staff General Ashok Raj Sigdel at the Army Headquarters in Kathmandu.
The two sides discussed the Nepal-US partnership and ongoing American assistance for disaster preparedness and response, which is helping the country recover from the devastating floods in August, according to the US embassy.
Flash floods, triggered by an ice-rock avalanche in the high Himalayas near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26, devastated towns and villages in northern and central Nepal, killing around 1,400 people, while more than 5,000 remain missing.
Bouldin expressed her "deepest condolences" for those who lost their lives in the disaster and sympathies to the families of missing Nepali Army personnel, the US mission said in a social media post.
She also highlighted that the US government is providing more than USD 150 million in American-made helicopters, drones and riverboats to strengthen Nepal's disaster-response capabilities.
Deliveries of the equipment will begin next year and will add to the USD 38 million worth of M28 Skytruck aircraft donated by the United States last fall, which have supported relief operations.
"With American technology, equipment, and expertise, the United States is helping Nepal strengthen its search and rescue, medical evacuation, and emergency response capabilities to save lives and support communities in times of crisis," the US embassy said.
