Nepal seeks technical aid, not search and rescue, after deadly flood

Nepal requires foreign assistance in specialized and technical fields where its expertise is lacking, following a devastating flood that struck its border with China earlier this week. However, the country does not need further help with search and rescue efforts, according to its Foreign Minister.

A glacier collapse on Wednesday unleashed a massive torrent of rock, ice, and mud through Himalayan river systems. The disaster has claimed the lives of nearly 600 people in Nepal and China's Tibet region, with more than 2,400 individuals still unaccounted for.

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We have already made requests for such specialised services and technical assistance in areas where we don't have enough expertise and technical know-how.

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal stated that Kathmandu has requested specialized services and technical aid in areas where local expertise and know-how are insufficient. This includes assistance with rescuing individuals trapped in tunnels, reopening transport and communication lines in areas where bridges have been destroyed, identifying deceased victims, conducting DNA testing, and preserving bodies for extended periods.

Neighbors India and China have been asked to provide bailey bridges to help restore early transport and communication in the affected region, where approximately two dozen bridges were destroyed. Earlier on Friday, Nepal's foreign ministry had indicated that the country could manage rescue efforts independently and declined foreign involvement. Khanal clarified that general search and rescue operations are being handled by Nepali rescuers, and there is no need for duplication of these efforts.

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We think there is no need for repetition in this.