The United States has confirmed a US$1 million contribution for the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide food assistance to refugees from Bhutan living in Nepal. The contribution from the United States will help WFP provide basic food such as rice, pulses and vegetable oil for nearly 17,000 refugees.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has been supporting WFP’s refugee operation in Nepal for the past 10 years.

“USAID’s contribution to WFP is part of our global effort to respond to protracted crises. The United States has contributed almost US$34 million to provide food assistance to refugees from Bhutan in Nepal between 2006 and 2016,” said Amy Tohill-Stull, Acting Mission Director, USAID/Nepal. “The United States has also become home to the great majority of resettled Bhutanese refugees.”

“The refugee community is very happy about the news of USAID’s support and I would like to thank donors for their support for the Bhutanese refugees living in Nepal,” said Champa Singh Rai, Camp Secretary of Sanischare refugee camp.

“WFP is grateful to USAID for this generous support, especially at this time of unprecedented global needs of refugees,” said Pippa Bradford, WFP Representative and Country Director. “Predictable and secure funding like this is important for the effective longer-tem management of an operation, as well as showing commitment to the refugees.”