- Advertisement -
Kathmandu, Nepal, August 23, 2022: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced on Monday that it will provide $15 million to Nepal as part of its efforts to address the global food crisis. This assistance is a part of the recently announced $2.76 billion US’s government funding.
US President Joe Biden had pledged the amount during the G7 Leaders’ Summit held in Germany in June stating as ‘vulnerable populations from the escalating global crisis worsened by Russia’s unprovoked war in Ukraine.’
The US Embassy in Nepal has stated in a statement that the funding would help protect vulnerable populations from the escalating global crisis worsened by Russia’s unprovoked war in Ukraine. ‘In Nepal, the supplemental funding will help ensure that people affected by rising prices and food shortages have enough to eat.
It is stated in the statement that the activities under the assistance include supporting small farms to produce more food locally and households in need of food assistance. The funds will also support nutrition-enhanced food for children under the age of five and pregnant women, acting USAID/Nepal Mission Director Beth Hogan has stated in the statement.
‘With yields for rice, maize, and other important crops potentially falling due to the impending fertilizer shortage, this support will have broad implications for Nepal's agriculture sector and its farmers, the USAID has stated adding ‘this additional funding will primarily help Nepal produce more food to consume and sell, thereby increasing household food security and incomes. These impacts will be especially helpful among women, youth, and marginalized groups who have limited access to information, inputs, technology, and services.’
Nepal is ranked 76 in a list of 116 countries in the 2021 Global Hunger Index. The Global Hunger Index is a peer-reviewed annual report published jointly by Irish humanitarian agency Concern Worldwide and German non-profit organization Welthungerhilfe.
