Floods: Nepal reverses decision to reject foreign rescue assistance

Nepal has changed its stance on accepting foreign aid for rescue operations following devastating floods that have claimed hundreds of lives, according to the Kathmandu Post. The decision reversal comes after intense pressure from the international community, with the United Nations, European Union, and several countries offering financial assistance amidst the destruction caused by the floods.

Initially, the Nepalese government, through its Foreign Ministry spokesman Lok Bahadur Chhetri, had stated that Nepal did not require foreign assistance for search and rescue operations. However, the situation has since changed, with Chhetri revealing that a limited number of experts will be permitted in certain areas to help local rescuers identify bodies, enabling authorities to return them to their families promptly.

The death toll from the flooding in Nepal has now reached 633 people. Initially, the floods were attributed to an earthquake followed by a landslide. However, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) later determined that the seismic activity was caused by a glacier collapse.