Twenty-seven members of Congress urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to enhance U.S. search-and-rescue and reconstruction efforts after Nepal’s catastrophic floods.
In a Sept. 4 letter, the group made five requests, including family updates, a Disaster Assistance Response Team, advanced search technology, wider international coordination and additional relief and rebuilding assistance.
Rep. Ro Khanna posted the letter on X, and its signature pages carry 27 names, including Khanna and Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Suhas Subramanyam.
Khanna’s accompanying post described the three lawmakers as having been joined by 27 colleagues, which would imply 30 participants. The post did not explain why that wording differs from the 27 signatures shown.
The letter said more than 1,300 people had died and at least 4,000 remained missing as of Sept. 4, including at least 75 U.S. citizens.
Elsewhere, it described nearly 100 Americans as missing. The letter did not clarify the relationship between that estimate and the figure of at least 75.
According to the letter, an Aug. 26 glacial collapse and landslide in the Himalayas triggered flash floods along the Trishuli and Bhote Koshi river corridors.
The lawmakers said water, mud and debris devastated communities in Nepal and Gyirong County, destroying roads, bridges, homes and critical infrastructure.
They welcomed $500,000 in State Department assistance through an award with Catholic Relief Services for emergency shelter, relief items, water, sanitation and hygiene.
The lawmakers also cited $3.6 million in U.S. humanitarian assistance announced Aug. 29. Although they thanked the department for its initial engagement, they argued that the disaster required a larger response.
The letter said the United Kingdom had reportedly offered responders and £5 million ($6.79 million), while South Korea was providing teams and $1 million through international organizations.
It said India was sending temporary shelters, blankets and medicine, and China and the Red Cross of China had provided $2.2 million.
The World Bank, United Nations, nongovernmental organizations and others were also sending emergency supplies and aid, according to the letter.
The lawmakers asked for daily updates to families of missing people and Congress, adequately staffed consular hotlines and repatriation services for U.S. citizens and their families.
They also asked for a Disaster Assistance Response Team, or DART, to be sent to flood-affected communities for search, rescue, logistics and medical support.
The letter said such teams were previously administered through the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance.
For search operations, the lawmakers requested high-altitude assets, thermal and infrared drones, shared aerial and satellite imagery and the use of phone-location data.
They asked the department to collaborate with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Defense Department agencies, and commercial satellite firms for imagery that can be used by the responders, humanitarian partners, and local governments.
Another request was to continue with diplomacy with Nepali and Chinese disaster authorities, international organizations and donor countries to ensure access to all search areas and better information on the missing Americans.
Finally, the group asked for faster aid and more International Disaster Assistance funding for search and rescue, water, sanitation, hygiene, food and transportation.
The lawmakers also sought long-term support to rebuild communities, strengthen infrastructure against future disasters and support development in affected areas.
The letter cited Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle’s estimate that rebuilding could cost $4 billion to $5 billion, nearly one-tenth of Nepal’s economy. The lawmakers asked the State Department to plan significant reconstruction support.
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