Nepal has declined offers from several countries to deploy search and rescue teams following devastating flash floods near its border with China, saying its own security agencies are capable of handling the emergency. At least 472 people have died and more than 1,500 remain missing since Wednesday. Rescue teams are continuing to search through mud and debris, while newly formed lakes created by blocked rivers have raised concerns over further flooding.
“The offer for help is natural. Our security agencies are doing the search and rescue operation. For now we don’t require such help,” Nepal Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri said, according to Reuters. India, China, the US, UK, Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have offered to send rescue personnel. Nepal, however, decided to rely on its army, police and other domestic agencies following recommendations from its security forces. “We received similar requests from China and other countries too, but we had to turn down the request,” a Nepalese Foreign Ministry official told the Kathmandu Post.
Officials said the decision was partly influenced by Nepal’s experience during the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, when the arrival of multiple foreign rescue teams created coordination challenges. The earthquake killed nearly 9,000 people and injured more than 23,000.
Nepal is, however, accepting financial assistance through a centralised mechanism. Its diplomatic missions have been instructed to channel foreign contributions through the Prime Minister Relief Fund. India has already delivered 47.5 tonnes of emergency supplies in two Indian Air Force flights, including tents, blankets, medicines, food and generators. New Delhi is also mobilising Bailey bridges to help restore connectivity. Several other countries have pledged financial assistance and support for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction. The US and UK have announced aid, while Asian Development Bank President Masato Kanda conveyed the institution’s support to Prime Minister Balendra Shah.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was prepared to provide humanitarian assistance, while British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband spoke to Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal and offered UK support. Miliband also sought updates on rescue efforts involving missing British nationals.
Nepal has separately established an Emergency Response Team to coordinate assistance for foreign nationals affected by the floods. “The ERT shall serve as the central coordinating body within the ministry to facilitate search, rescue, information verification, and consular assistance in respect of foreign nationals affected by, missing in, or otherwise connected to the flood incident,” the Foreign Ministry said. The team is also coordinating with security agencies on the ground to trace missing foreigners. According to Nepal Police, nationals of India, the US, Malaysia, Ukraine, the UK, Australia and Canada are among those unaccounted for. Chinese officials have also reported that at least 100 Chinese nationals remain out of contact.
Meanwhile, authorities are monitoring a newly formed lake near the Rasuwagadhi border crossing, where rocks and ice have blocked the Lhende River. Nepal’s disaster management authority said satellite analysis showed the formation of the lake, while China’s water resources ministry estimated that around two million cubic metres of water had accumulated by Thursday morning. The lake was reportedly beginning to overflow, with authorities expecting another three million cubic metres to build up over the following three days, raising concerns about the risk of further flooding.
