KATHMANDU: The US government, in its  budgetary proposal, has sought a four-fold jump in financial assistance to Nepal for the post-earthquake reconstruction efforts.

The US Congressional Budget Justification has made a request for USD 64 million to Nepal as a part of its support to rebuild the country after the 2015 devastating earthquake that killed nearly 9,000 people and destroyed thousands of buildings.

The US assistance, if provided, will be used to foster economic growth, and support reconstruction of houses, schools, and livelihoods in Nepal following the devastating April 2015 earthquake.

"Resources will also be used to increase agricultural productivity and promote changes in nutrition habits in order to lower the poverty rate and increase food security," reads the Congressional Budget Justification for Fiscal Year 2017.

"Resources will also be used to increase agricultural productivity and promote changes in nutrition habits in order to lower the poverty rate and increase food security."

The President’s Fiscal Year 2017 Budget provides USD 50.1 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of State and the US Agency for International Development, including  USD 14.9 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations, US Department of State said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Emergencies in the Diplomatic and Consular Service (EDCS) has requested USD 7.9 million in the FY 2017, according to the Congressional Budget Justification.

The EDCS is used meet unforeseen emergency requirements in the conduct of foreign affairs, including evacuations of personnel and their families overseas and, in certain circumstances, private US citizens and third country nationals, as well as  other authorised activities that further the realisation of US foreign policy objectives. Funding is heavily influenced by unpredictable evacuations that may occur as a result of natural disasters, epidemics, terrorist acts, and civil unrest.

The US government carried out evacuations of US citizens from different countries including Nepal.

Likewise, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has requested USD 1,000 million. The Funding will support compacts with Lesotho, Nepal, and the Philippines, as well as threshold programs with Sri Lanka and Togo.

The FY 2017 request includes USD 1,505.8 million for the South and Central Asia. The funding aims at supporting extraordinary and temporary needs that will help stabilise conflict areas and aid in the transition to long-term sustainable and durable development of Afghanistan and Pakistan.