The Finance Minister of Nepal, Wagler, recently extended a formal expression of gratitude on behalf of his government to Jensen Huang, the founder and CEO of Nvidia, for a charitable contribution of $10 million directed to the Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund. The funds are earmarked for rescue operations, assistance to those affected, and reconstruction efforts following the catastrophic flooding.
The significant donation was catalyzed by the efforts of more than 50 Nvidia employees of Nepalese origin. In the wake of the floods, these staff members initiated a petition within the company, appealing for corporate support for relief and rebuilding in their homeland, which ultimately led to this substantial financial commitment. A social activist has disclosed that Nvidia stipulated that the Nepalese authorities guarantee the proper and transparent use of the funds, a condition to which the government has agreed.
Notably, this contribution stands as the largest donation from a technology company received by Nepal since the onset of the disaster on August 26. As the world's most valuable listed company, with a market capitalization exceeding $5.5 trillion, Nvidia's generosity sets a significant precedent.
The catastrophic event began on August 26 when a massive landslide struck the Rasuwa district in northern Nepal. In response, the Nepalese government declared several affected local administrative units as disaster crisis zones for a period of three months, effective that same day. This measure was implemented to facilitate the centralized deployment of rescue resources, enhance personnel management, and accelerate post-disaster recovery operations.
According to the latest figures from Nepal Police, the death toll from the landslides has tragically risen to 1,342 as of 5:00 AM local time on September 5, with 4,898 individuals still reported missing.