KATHMANDU, Nepal — Nepal is facing significant challenges in its recovery from catastrophic flash floods in late August, with international aid falling short compared to the support received after the 2015 earthquake. The recent glacial lake outburst floods killed more than 1,300 people and left at least 5,000 missing, displacing tens of thousands and causing widespread destruction to infrastructure.

In contrast to its robust response after the 2015 earthquake, when the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) quickly deployed a 128-member disaster response team and pledged $10 million in aid, the U.S. contribution following the floods has been markedly smaller, with $3.6 million allocated primarily for food assistance. Several local nonprofits and development experts report that many USAID-funded programs have ceased or been curtailed since funding cuts were implemented under the Trump administration, limiting their capacity to support relief and rebuilding efforts.

“The U.S. had an incredibly important role from the start of that particular disaster. At this point, the U.S. response is invisible,” said Corey O’Hara, an international development expert based in Nepal who oversaw the closeout of a USAID project last year. Former USAID employees and government officials described the agency as a key coordinator and enabler in disaster preparedness and response, facilitating search and rescue operations and connecting humanitarian actors with the government.

The reduction in U.S. aid is part of a broader trend of decreasing development assistance globally. Nepal’s Finance Minister, Swarnim Wagle, expressed concern that the U.S. withdrawal from international aid agencies and treaties has influenced other donor countries to reduce their commitments. “The United States seemed to have emboldened other rich countries to also follow a similar path,” he said, warning of a shrinking pool of development grants available to Nepal, an impoverished country highly vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters.

While the State Department defended the U.S. response as “fast, flexible and driven by conditions on the ground,” a spokesperson noted that aid was delivered based on Nepal’s government requests. Military cargo planes transported disaster recovery equipment and first aid kits to support search-and-rescue operations following the floods.

International donors have also scaled back their contributions relative to 2015. The United Kingdom pledged approximately $6.5 million in humanitarian aid for the floods but announced plans to reduce its overseas development assistance starting next year. Japan offered roughly $3 million in post-flood aid, a decline from the $8 million it provided following the earthquake.

Nepal’s past recovery from the 2015 earthquake required more than $7 billion, much of which came from long-term loans, and many of the costs from the recent floods remain undetermined but are expected to run into billions of dollars. Key infrastructure, including bridges, highways, schools, and homes, suffered extensive damage.

Humanitarian groups such as the United Nations and International Medical Corps continue to assist government efforts, with displaced populations receiving aid in camps and hospitals across Kathmandu and adjoining regions. However, experts warn that the diminished role of key donors like USAID complicates coordination and prolongs recovery efforts.

Govind Raj Pokharel, former head of Nepal’s National Reconstruction Authority, highlighted the scale of the challenge: “The destruction from the floods is likely to be several times greater than that caused by the earthquake. The paradox is that we have seen less interest from the international community in extending support. The initial signs are not encouraging.”