The United States has approved an additional USD 1 million in assistance to strengthen Nepal Police’s DNA and forensic identification capabilities as authorities continue efforts to identify victims of last month’s devastating floods. The US Embassy in Kathmandu said the latest funding will support forensic assistance and help improve the country’s ability to identify people killed in the disaster. The assistance comes as Nepal continues to deal with the aftermath of flash floods that caused widespread loss of life and left thousands of people missing.
The additional funding was announced on Saturday and forms part of continuing US humanitarian support for Nepal following the deadly floods that struck the Himalayan nation on August 26. The disaster killed nearly 1,400 people, while more than 5,000 remained missing, according to the information released by the US Embassy. The large number of missing people has made identifying victims a major challenge for authorities and families waiting for information about their relatives.
The new assistance will be provided through the US State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. According to the embassy, the funding will support forensic assistance, including DNA analysis kits. Such resources can help authorities compare genetic material from unidentified remains with samples from relatives and other available records, providing a scientific basis for confirming identities when visual identification is difficult or impossible.
Also Read: Nepal Floods Leave Children Battling Loss, Uncertainty And Trauma While Clinging To Hope
The United States is also providing specialised expertise as Nepal works through the difficult process of disaster victim identification. FBI forensic specialists are working alongside Nepal Police to support efforts to identify those who died in the floods. Their work is intended to help authorities establish the identities of victims and provide information to families who are still waiting for confirmation about what happened to their loved ones.
The identification effort is particularly significant for families whose relatives remain unaccounted for after the disaster. Among those awaiting information are families of American citizens who may have been affected by the floods. The involvement of US forensic specialists alongside Nepalese authorities reflects the international dimension of the response, while the additional funding is aimed at strengthening Nepal’s own forensic capacity for the ongoing identification process.
The US assistance comes as Nepal continues its recovery from one of the country’s deadliest recent flooding disasters. Beyond immediate humanitarian relief, identifying victims is an essential part of the response, particularly when large numbers of people remain missing. By providing DNA analysis equipment, forensic support and specialist expertise, Washington’s latest assistance is intended to help Nepal Police improve the identification process and provide clearer answers to families affected by the tragedy.
Also Read: Nepal Flood Disaster: Police And Paramilitary Sniffer Dogs Locate 26 Bodies In Bhotekoshi