Fatima Sumar, vice-president of the US aid project Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), warned that foreign aids would be cut off if Nepal refused MCC grant.

Sumar, who arrived in Nepal last Thursday, gave such a warning during a discussion with officials of the Millennium Challenge Account Nepal (MCA).

During her four-day visit, Sumar had discussions with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Leader of the opposition party, UML, KP Sharma Oli and other party leaders as well. In a discussion with the officials of MCA, the organization responsible for advancing the MCC project, Sumar said that Nepali leaders have taken the United States as a player.

According to an official who participated in the discussion, Sumar, who spoke fluently for about half an hour, warned that Nepal would face problems in obtaining foreign loans and grants in the coming days if the nation refuses the grant.  Sumar said, “United States has the potential to have a direct and indirect impact on more than 60 percent of total foreign aid.”

Vice President Sumar explained the relationship between the World Bank and the United States aswell. She also explained how United States has access to other donor agencies, including the Asian Development Bank, and said that United States could have an immediate impact on most of Nepal’s assistance.