Washington DC, May 5 (ANI) — In its fiscal year 2027 report, the US House Appropriations Committee urged the State Department to engage with Nepal to protect the rights of Tibetan refugees living there.
The committee called for renewed efforts to register all Tibetan refugees, noting that many have lacked formal legal recognition since Nepal halted the registration process in 1995. The report, cited by Phayul, described growing worry over Beijing’s expanding influence in Nepal and warned that this shift has left Tibetan communities more vulnerable.
According to the committee, increased Chinese influence in recent years has coincided with tighter restrictions on basic freedoms for Tibetans in Nepal, including constraints on religious and cultural practices. Those concerns informed the committee’s recommendations on aid and diplomatic pressure.
Lawmakers recommended maintaining funding for Tibetan refugee assistance programs in Nepal and India at levels comparable to recent years so humanitarian support can continue uninterrupted. The United States has historically provided significant assistance to Tibetan communities while also aiming to counter what it characterizes as malign foreign influence in the region.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 allocated roughly $23 million for Tibet-related programs. In July 2025 the State Department restored $6.8 million in aid for Tibetan communities across South Asia, including Nepal, after earlier cuts, the report said.
For FY2027 the committee proposed sustained financial support, including $10 million for cultural preservation projects inside Tibet and $8 million for refugee and diaspora support programs serving populations in India and Nepal.
The committee also urged the Secretary of State to press Nepal to honor its commitments to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which bars returning individuals to countries where they may face persecution.
“The Committee backs continued funding to support Tibetan refugees in India and Nepal at levels consistent with previous years,” the report said, adding that agreements between Nepal and the PRC in recent years have increased the vulnerability of Tibetans living in or passing through Nepal, limiting their ability to fully exercise certain fundamental rights.
(Report details cited from Phayul; syndicated content published as received.)
