Nepal is seeking specialised international assistance after devastating floods struck its Himalayan border with China this week. However, the government says it does not currently need foreign search-and-rescue teams for general rescue operations.
Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said Nepal instead needs technical support in areas where domestic expertise remains limited.
A glacier collapse on Wednesday unleashed rock, ice, mud and debris through Himalayan river systems.
The disaster killed more than 600 people across Nepal and China’s Tibet, while more than 2,000 people remain unaccounted for.
The flood swept through areas near the Chinese border, destroying entire towns and damaging hydropower facilities.
Nepal Seeks Specialised International Support
Khanal said Nepal requires foreign assistance for several highly specialised tasks following the disaster.
These include rescuing people who may remain trapped inside tunnels at hydropower facilities.
Nepal also needs technical support to restore transportation and communication services where bridges have been destroyed.
Furthermore, assistance could help authorities identify recovered bodies through DNA testing and preserve bodies for longer periods.
“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,” Khanal said late Friday.
The request reflects Nepal’s focus on targeted assistance rather than a broader international deployment.
Search and Rescue Remains in Nepali Hands
Several countries have reportedly offered to send search-and-rescue teams to assist Nepal.
India, China, the United States, Britain, Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have asked Kathmandu to allow their teams into the affected areas.
However, Khanal said Nepal’s own rescuers were handling general search-and-rescue operations.
Earlier on Friday, Nepal’s foreign ministry said the country could manage rescue efforts without foreign involvement for the time being.
Khanal later clarified that the government’s position did not rule out specialised foreign assistance.
“We think there is no need for repetition in this,” he said, referring to general search-and-rescue support.
India and China Asked to Provide Bailey Bridges
The destruction of bridges has created another urgent challenge for disaster-hit communities.
Nepal has asked neighbouring India and China to provide Bailey bridges to restore transportation and communication links.
Around two dozen bridges were destroyed in the affected region, making access to several areas significantly more difficult.
Therefore, temporary bridges could help reopen important routes while damaged infrastructure remains inaccessible.
The request also highlights the immediate logistical challenges facing rescue and relief teams.
Hospitals Struggle to Store Recovered Bodies
The disaster has also placed severe pressure on hospitals dealing with recovered victims.
Rescue officials said many bodies were washed away and later recovered from Chitwan and Nawalparasi in Nepal’s plains.
Those areas are located around 100 kilometres from the flood’s ground zero.
“More bodies are likely to be recovered from these places where hospitals have been overwhelmed with dead bodies and lack refrigerators to store them,” Khanal said.
Consequently, body identification and preservation have become urgent priorities alongside ongoing rescue efforts.
DNA testing could also help authorities identify victims whose remains cannot be recognised through conventional methods.
Tunnel Rescue Presents a New Challenge
Some people may still be trapped inside tunnels belonging to hydropower facilities, according to reports received by Nepalese officials.
Khanal said Nepal has limited experience with tunnel operations and therefore needs specialised equipment and technical expertise.
He specifically highlighted the need for knowledge in tunnel rescue operations.
The challenge adds another layer of complexity to an already extensive disaster response.
While Nepali rescuers continue general search operations, specialised teams could provide expertise for situations beyond their existing capabilities.
Major Infrastructure Damage
The floods have caused widespread damage across the affected region.
School buildings, hospitals, roads, bridges and hydropower plants have suffered extensive destruction.
The scale of the damage is also expected to create longer-term challenges for Nepal.
Officials have indicated that the country will need international support for reconstruction and rehabilitation in the future.
For now, however, Kathmandu is focusing its foreign assistance requests on specific technical requirements.
That approach allows Nepalese rescuers to continue leading the immediate response while bringing in outside expertise where necessary.
Nepal Balances Self-Reliance With International Support
Nepal’s response highlights the difficult balance between managing a disaster independently and accepting specialised international assistance.
The country says its rescue teams can continue handling general search-and-rescue operations.
At the same time, the scale and complexity of the destruction have exposed areas where additional expertise remains necessary.
Tunnel rescues, DNA testing, body preservation and restoring transport links require specialised resources and technical knowledge.
Therefore, Nepal is seeking targeted support rather than replacing its own rescue operations with foreign teams.
As the country moves from immediate rescue towards recovery, international assistance could also become increasingly important.
The destruction of vital infrastructure means reconstruction and rehabilitation will require resources beyond the immediate emergency response.
For Nepal, the priority now is clear: keep domestic teams at the centre of rescue efforts while bringing in specialised foreign expertise where it can make the greatest difference.
