Kathmandu, May 13. The US Foreign Relations Committee of the US Senate on Wednesday has discussed about the ongoing covid crisis in Nepal.

As the second wave is proving to be as disastrous as it is neighboring India, the Senate has decided to provide an amount of US$ 10 million as aid to Nepal.

Jeremy, executive director of the USAID Senate Task Force has said that they are also willing to provide aid in the form of vaccines. He also informed the lawmakers that the aid for Nepal was from the Covid Emergency Relief Fund.

Three US senators raised direct questions about Nepal and asked what the US was doing to help Nepal. Senator Murphy and Senator Sahen asked what are the priorities for Nepal.

In response to their questions, executive director Jeremy said that the United States has made it a priority to assist Nepal, while Senator Van Houlan said that after a discussion with Gayle Smith from the foreign ministry, a decision will be made soon.

With the increasing number of covid cases everyday in Nepal, the urgent need of humanitarian assistance was pressed by Nepali organizations in the US. Different organizations and personalities working in the United States, including former US Ambassador to Nepal Scott Delisi; Dr. Bhupesh Khadka, President of the American Nepal Medical Foundation; Nepal Rising Chairwoman Aarti Maleku; A.N.A. President Vijayraj Bhattarai; N.R. N. The President of the United States, Sunil Sah; president of the Nepali Women’s Global Network, Abhima Upreti signed a letter calling for help from US and that “advocacy matters”.

The campaign then took a big turn. One of the campaigners, A.N.A. Chairman Vijay Raj Bhattarai told DC Nepal, “Wherever one cannot communicate in their language, it may not give the right result. Our numbers communicate our request to the US government. That is why we requested 2-3 minutes to sign.”

A new campaign was launched where the campaigners were to take names and numbers of 10 Senate members so that they can lobby and advocate from their level, in whichever way they can.

Many people also participated in “Sign the Petition” campaign as well, which is why Nepal has been a matter of discussion in the US Senate.