Jimmy Carter Warns of Humanitarian Crisis in Nepal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 29, 2016
Contact: In Atlanta, Soyia Ellison, [email protected]

ATLANTA - Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and The Carter Center call on the international community to continue providing desperately needed humanitarian support to Nepal and urge the country's political leaders to work quickly to resolve differences over the new constitution.

Political deadlock has impeded government efforts to rebuild after the devastating April 2015 earthquake and has pushed the country close to a full-scale humanitarian crisis. A months-long blockade on goods entering Nepal has worsened problems, crippling the economy and creating severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel.

"Millions of Nepali citizens have received little to no support from the government while trying to rebuild their lives after the earthquake, and millions more have been deprived of essential goods and services due to the ongoing political impasse," said President Carter. "It is imperative that Nepal's political parties reach consensus while taking concrete steps to rebuild in order to prevent the current situation from becoming a full-scale humanitarian crisis. The international community should continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Nepal and help with plans for long-term reconstruction."

To date, the international community has pledged more than a billion dollars for earthquake reconstruction. While The Carter Center does not engage directly in emergency relief, President and Mrs. Carter support relief efforts to assist Nepal's recovery. The Center maintained a full-time political and electoral observation presence in Nepal from January 2007 to February 2014 and continues to monitor Nepal's political transition. View previous Carter Center reports on Nepal's peace and constitution-drafting process here.

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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.