As rescue and relief operations continue in Nepal in the wake of catastrophic floods along the Tibetan border, Kathmandu has declined offers from India, China and several other nations to deploy helicopters
and teams to advance the ongoing efforts.
The Prime Minister Balen Shah-led government of Nepal expressed confidence that its security agencies were capable of conducting the rescue and relief operations. The Government said a central mechanism was created to coordinate information regarding thousands of foreign nationals who are untraceable.
While Nepal is accepting foreign assistance in the form of relief supplies and financial contributions, it has rejected offers of foreign search and rescue assistance. India, China, the United States, Japan, Bangladesh and South Korea were among the nations that offered to extend assistance through search-and-rescue teams.
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A Lesson From The Past?
A senior Nepalese foreign ministry officials told The Kathmandu Post that the government told the countries offering search-and-rescue-teams that the country’s own security agencies are “capable of handling the operation”.
The reason behind the decision lies in the administrative chaos following the 2015 earthquake. While the devastating quake brought an immense response from across the world, it simultaneously created serious logistical and administrative pressure.
Nepali officials told The Kathmandu Post that competition among foreign countries and difficulties coordinating their actions created chaos, especially at a time when airports, roads, and communication networks were non-functional.
Taking lesson from the past, Kathmandu is now cautious so as to avoid a similar situation. It relies on a clear chain of command rather than seeking assistance from multiple channels at once.
Death Toll Rises To 469
The death toll from the devastating flash flood that damaged several parts of Nepal along the Tibetan border this week has climbed to 469. Search and rescue operations are underway in the debris-strewn valleys and hillsides of Nepal, with more than 1,000 people missing.
Meanwhile, a lake in Tibet burst again, with Nepalese authorities issuing an advisory to urge residents to move away from the banks in the Rasuwa district.
In a statement posted on ‘X’, the Nepal Police said: “As information has been received that a water dam has burst again on the Tibetan side, all security personnel, rescue workers, and the general public deployed in rescue and relief operations are requested to remain alert and immediately move to a safe location/report the information.”
Subsequently, rescue operations were also halted in the wake of the swell in the Tibetan lake.
