Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter Urges Long-term Support to Nepal

Contact: Deanna Congileo, [email protected]

ATLANTA - In the wake of the devastating earthquake and ongoing rescue and recovery operations in Nepal, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter calls on the international community to redouble efforts to support Nepal and to develop clear plans for long-term assistance and rebuilding. To ensure the success of these efforts, it will be critical for Nepali political leaders to work closely together and resolve political differences.

"Nepal needs sustained support from the international community to address both its immediate humanitarian emergency as well as its longer-term recovery," said President Carter. "At this critical time, Nepal's political leaders must play a key role. They should recommit to consensus and cooperation to consolidate the peace process and finalize the new constitution this year so that Nepalis can move forward together."

President Carter and Mrs. Carter and the staff of The Carter Center extend condolences and deepest sympathies to the victims and families affected by the earthquake in Nepal.

While The Carter Center does not engage directly in emergency relief efforts, President and Mrs. Carter urge individuals to donate to the relief efforts. Each year President Carter and Mrs. Carter give a week of their time improving and building homes with Habitat for Humanity. This year they will be travelling to Nepal in November to lead the Habitat for Humanity Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project.

The Carter Center maintained a full-time political, constitutional, and electoral observation presence in Nepal from January 2007 to February 2014. View previous Carter Center reports on Nepal's peace and constitution-drafting process.

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"Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope."
A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.