Kathmandu: Nepal’s interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Saturday announced sweeping relief measures for those affected by the recent Gen Z protests, declaring those who lost their lives as “martyrs” and directing the government to cover the full cost of treatment for the injured.

Chief Secretary Eknarayan Aryal said the government has instructed hospitals to provide free medical care to the wounded protesters, adding that treatment under the new directive has already begun. Families of the deceased will also receive compensation of 1 million Nepali rupees each, he confirmed.

Karki, who formally assumed office on Friday night, personally visited hospitals in Kathmandu to meet those injured during the unrest and assess the ongoing medical care.

The United States welcomed the move, with US Ambassador to Nepal Dean R Thompson calling it “a step toward stability after last week’s tragic events.” He praised Nepal’s leadership, including President Ramchandra Paudel and youth representatives, for pursuing a democratic solution, while acknowledging the role of the Nepali Army in ensuring order.

Karki, 73, a former Supreme Court Chief Justice, was sworn in as Nepal’s first woman Prime Minister after the fall of the KP Sharma Oli government earlier this week. The interim government has been tasked with holding parliamentary elections within six months.