Nepal Seeks Technical Aid, Not Rescue Operations, for Flood Aftermath

Nepal requires foreign assistance in specialized and technical fields to manage the aftermath of severe floods that struck its border region with China. However, the country does not need general search and rescue operations, according to Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal.

The floods occurred after a glacier collapse on Wednesday, unleashing a torrent of rocks, ice, mud, and debris through the Himalayan river system. The disaster has claimed nearly 600 lives in Nepal and China's Tibet region, with over 2,000 people still unaccounted for.

Minister Khanal explained that Nepal needs help with tasks requiring specific expertise not readily available domestically. This includes rescuing individuals trapped in tunnels, restoring transportation and communication services in areas where bridges were destroyed, and identifying bodies. Assistance is also needed for DNA testing and preserving remains.

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We have made requests for specialized services and technical assistance in areas where we do not have sufficient expertise and technical knowledge.

"We have made requests for specialized services and technical assistance in areas where we do not have sufficient expertise and technical knowledge," Khanal told Reuters on Friday. India and China have been asked to provide Bailey bridges to quickly restore transport and communication links in the affected areas, as approximately two dozen bridges were destroyed.

Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday that Kathmandu is currently capable of handling its own rescue operations and does not require foreign involvement in those efforts. Khanal clarified that Nepal does not need general search and rescue assistance as its own rescue teams are already engaged in these tasks. "We believe there should be no overlap in these efforts," he stated.

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We believe there should be no overlap in these efforts.