5 days ago
Nepal Declines Foreign Rescue Teams as Flood Toll Rises
Flash floods badly damaged parts of Nepal, including Rasuwa district near the Chinese border.
The floods destroyed towns, roads and bridges and damaged hydropower projects.
At least 475 people died, and more than 1,500 were reported missing by The Kathmandu Post.
Many foreign nationals are also missing or stranded.
Several countries offered to send rescue teams to help.
Nepal said its own army, police and other security agencies could handle the rescue work.
Nepal also said foreign teams had caused coordination problems after the 2015 earthquake.
A former diplomat suggested that Rasuwa’s sensitive location near China might have influenced the decision, but Nepal denied this.
Nepal is still accepting supplies and financial aid and has created a team to help locate foreign nationals.
Nepal says its army, police and other security agencies can manage search-and-rescue operations without foreign teams.
The floods killed at least 475 people and left more than 1,500 missing, according to The Kathmandu Post.
India, China, the United States, Britain, Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh offered rescue assistance.
South Korea reported nine citizens missing and 10 stranded, and said it would continue negotiating with Nepal over rescue teams.
Nepal is accepting relief supplies and seeking financial assistance while coordinating information about missing foreign nationals.
- Who
- The Government of Nepal and its army, police and other security agencies are leading the response; foreign governments are seeking help for missing or stranded citizens.
- What
- Nepal declined offers from several countries to send search-and-rescue teams after devastating flash floods, while accepting or seeking humanitarian and financial assistance.
- Where
- The worst-hit areas included Rasuwa district in Nepal, near the border with China’s Tibet region.
- When
- The decision and related statements were reported on Friday, August 28; rescue and recovery efforts were ongoing.
- Why
- Nepal says its own security agencies are capable of managing the rescue operation. A Foreign Ministry official also cited coordination problems involving large numbers of foreign teams after the 2015 earthquake, while a former diplomat suggested border sensitivity may have played a role.
Nepal’s stated rationale
Foreign requests and concerns
Need for foreign rescue teams
Nepal’s stated rationale
Nepal says its army, police and other security agencies are capable of conducting the search-and-rescue operation and that foreign teams are not currently needed.
Foreign requests and concerns
South Korea and other countries have sought to send rescue teams, particularly because foreign nationals remain missing or stranded; Seoul said it would continue negotiating with Nepal.
Role of China’s border region
Nepal’s stated rationale
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri said the decision was based on Nepal’s assessment of its own rescue capabilities and was unrelated to China’s sensitivity.
Foreign requests and concerns
Former Nepali ambassador Dinesh Bhattarai said Nepal may have considered the sensitivity of Rasuwa, which borders China’s Tibet region, when declining foreign teams.
Type of international assistance
Nepal’s stated rationale
Nepal is declining foreign search-and-rescue teams but is accepting relief supplies and requesting financial support for relief, recovery and reconstruction.
Foreign requests and concerns
Foreign governments and institutions are offering rescue personnel, humanitarian aid and financial assistance, while seeking information and assistance for their citizens.
Key facts
- Reported death toll
- At least 475 people, according to The Kathmandu Post; other reports described the toll as close to 500.
- Reported missing
- More than 1,500 people were reported missing by The Kathmandu Post.
- Foreign rescue offers
- India, China, the United States, Britain, Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh offered or sought permission to send rescue teams.
- South Korean nationals
- Nine South Koreans working at a hydropower plant were missing and 10 were stranded.
- South Korean assistance
- South Korea pledged $1 million in humanitarian assistance through international organisations.
- Nepal’s coordination effort
- Nepal created an Emergency Response Team to coordinate search, rescue, information verification and consular assistance for foreign nationals.
- Indian relief supplies
- India sent 47.5 tonnes of tents, blankets, medicines, food, generators and other supplies on two flights.
- Additional flood threat
- A lake formed near the Rasuwagadhi border crossing after rocks and ice blocked the Lhende River; China estimated that about 2 million cubic metres of water had accumulated.
Quotes
Lok Bahadur Chhetri
Spokesperson for Nepal’s Foreign Ministry
“The offer for help is natural. Our security agencies are doing the search and rescue operation. For now we don't require such help.”
firstpost.com
NDTV
theprint.in
deccanchronicle.com
“They may have thought about the locational sensitivity of the region and decided not to accept foreign teams.”
firstpost.com
NDTV
theprint.in
deccanchronicle.com
South Korea’s foreign ministry
Government ministry representing South Korea’s foreign affairs
“Whatever request has been made by Nepal, we are acting on that”
firstpost.com
“South Korea will keep negotiating with Nepal over the matter.”
NDTV
theprint.in
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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