China pledges to send urgent emergency aid to Nepal after deadly landslide

China's top leadership has pledged to send urgent emergency aid to Nepal as rescue efforts continue in the aftermath of a devastating flash flood and landslide that occurred on the border between the two countries.

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urgent emergency assistance

The disaster has resulted in substantial loss of life and missing persons. In Tibet's Gyirong county, five people have died and 558 are reported missing. Nepal has reported even higher numbers, with 469 dead and nearly 1,000 individuals still unaccounted for.

Chinese President Xi Jinping conveyed his condolences to his Nepalese counterpart, Ram Chandra Poudel, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Following a meeting chaired by Xi, the Politburo committed to providing "urgent emergency assistance" and offered "international rescue cooperation" to Nepal. State news agency Xinhua reported on these commitments.

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international rescue cooperation

The Politburo meeting began with a moment of silence for the victims. Participants called for a "scientific and well-targeted" search and rescue plan to locate everyone still missing. The officials acknowledged the extreme difficulties faced by rescue operations due to the high-altitude, frigid environment, steep valleys, volatile weather, and ongoing geological hazards from surrounding glaciers and glacial lakes.

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Search and rescue operations face extreme difficulty due to the high-altitude, frigid environment, steep valleys, volatile weather and lingering geological hazards from surrounding glaciers and glacial lakes.