From Foreign Policy · Bibek Bhandari · · 2m
USAID’s Destruction Left Nepal Dangerously Exposed
Nepal’s disaster response collapses after USAID funding cuts.
In brief
Nepal’s disaster response collapses after USAID funding cuts. Nepal faces heightened flood risks as USAID’s funding cuts end critical disaster monitoring programs. Originally reported by Foreign Policy.
USAID funding cuts
USAID’s funding cuts ended critical flood-detection programs in Nepal after months of freezes and layoffs under the Trump administration.
USAID’s role in disaster response
USAID once coordinated disaster relief with multiple organizations, serving as the lead u.s. government agency for foreign disaster response.
2015 earthquake response
In the 2015 earthquake, USAID worked with multiple organizations in rescue and relief operations, saving lives through coordinated efforts.
Santosh Gyawali’s perspective
Santosh Gyawali, former usaids bureau for humanitarian assistance representative, said the u.s. response to recent floods is now missing compared to the 2015 earthquake.
USAID dismantling timeline
USAID was effectively destroyed in july 2025 following months of funding freezes and mass layoffs under the trump administration’s department of government efficiency.
SERVIR-HKH program
The servir-hkh program, a joint initiative of usaid, nasa, and icimod, monitored floods and landslides until january 2025 when funding was cut.
Birendra Bajracharya’s view
Birendra Bajracharya, former icimod project director, said servir-hkh was crucial for translating satellite data into actionable information for mountainous regions.
Climate change impacts
Rising global temperatures accelerate glacial melt, increasing risks of glacial lake outburst floods in nepal, india, and china.
Recent flooding events
Nepal experienced multiple floods in late september and october 2026, including a rock-ice avalanche in gorkha district.
Funding loss impact
A report noted usaid’s dismantling resulted in immediate loss of $1 billion per year in direct funding for biodiversity, climate, and clean energy programs across 100+ countries.
Tayar program details
Tayar, usaids flagship disaster risk-management program, disbursed over $30 million between 2020 and 2024 to improve disaster preparedness in nepal.
Local government challenges
Nepal’s local governments lack capacity to maintain disaster systems without donor funding, risking future recovery and preparedness.
U.S. response scale
The u.s. provided about $36 million in assistance after recent floods, compared to over $130 million after the 2015 earthquake.
Reconstruction costs
Nepal’s disaster reconstruction bill is estimated at $4.7 billion, with 65 percent required for infrastructure rebuilding.
The headline
Nepal faces heightened flood risks as USAID’s funding cuts end critical disaster monitoring programs.
