Nepal says it needs foreign help mainly in specialised technical areas after this week’s deadly floods triggered by a glacier collapse along its Himalayan border with China, rather than additional search and rescue. Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal tells Reuters that Nepal has already requested assistance focused on tasks where it lacks expertise and know-how.
The glacier collapse on Wednesday releases a torrent of rock, ice, mud and debris through mountain river systems, killing nearly 600 people across Nepal and China’s Tibet and leaving more than 2,000 others unaccounted for, according to the reports. Nepal says it is seeking support for rescuing people trapped in tunnels, restoring transport and communications where bridges are destroyed, identifying dead bodies, conducting DNA testing, and arranging longer-term body storage.
While both outlets describe Nepal’s request as prioritising technical and recovery support, the Korea Times account adds specific examples of the kinds of services requested and notes that neighbouring countries India and China have been approached, including for bailey bridges to help restart early transport. Free Malaysia Today presents the same overall focus on transport/communications restoration and body identification and storage.
