Nepal declines foreign rescue help

KATHMANDU: Despite offers of assistance from multiple nations, including South Korea, India, China, the US, Britain, Japan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, Nepal has declined foreign aid for its search-and-rescue operations following a devastating flash flood. The flood affected various towns, including those near the Chinese border in Rasuwa district, resulting in widespread destruction, damage to hydropower infrastructure, and the loss of over 500 lives.

However, Nepal's Foreign Ministry maintains that the country's security agencies are effectively managing the rescue efforts, and that it does not require external intervention at this time. Lok Bahadur Chhetri, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry, confirmed that the government managed the rescue operations and did not need additional help.

The South Korean government, on the other hand, has already dispatched a response team and pledged a $1 million humanitarian aid through international organizations, with some South Koreans still missing and stranded in the disaster. South Korea's foreign ministry stated that Nepal had suggested it was not planning to accept foreign rescue teams at the moment, and that it would continue negotiations with Nepal on the matter.

Chinese state media reported that China's President Xi Jinping had extended his condolences to Nepal's president, but there is no information available from the Chinese foreign ministry regarding the reasons for Nepal's refusal of foreign assistance.