'No need for general assistance’: Nepal lists conditions for foreign help
Nepal has requested specialized foreign assistance for tunnel rescue operations following devastating floods caused by a glacier collapse. While declining general search-and-rescue help, the government is coordinating with India to secure technical expertise and equipment for trapped victims.
Why it matters
The disaster underscores the vulnerability of Himalayan infrastructure to climate-related events and the necessity of international cooperation for specialized disaster response.
Nepal has opened the door to limited foreign assistance following this week’s catastrophic floods, but has made clear that it does not need outside help for general search-and-rescue operations.Instead, Kathmandu is seeking specialised services and technical expertise in areas where Nepal lacks the necessary equipment or experience, foreign minister Khanal told Reuters, as the scale of the disaster continued to overwhelm relief efforts.Nepal is new to tunnels and needs equipment as well as technical knowledge in tunnel rescue operations, he said.The devastating floods were triggered by a glacier collapse on Wednesday, unleashing a torrent of rock, ice, mud and debris through Himalayan river systems near Nepal’s border with China. More than 600 people have been killed in Nepal and China’s Tibet, while over 2,000 remain unaccounted for.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in