Nepal Declines Foreign Rescue Teams After Deadly Flash Floods

The Government of Nepal has declined offers from multiple countries to deploy foreign search and rescue teams following devastating flash floods that struck the Rasuwa district on August 26. The floods, which surged through the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems, killed 469 people and left approximately 1,500 missing, including over 500 foreign nationals. Nepali officials stated that domestic security agencies are capable of managing the operation, citing a desire to avoid the coordination challenges experienced during the 2015 earthquake.

While Nepal refused personnel, it requested financial contributions through the Prime Minister Relief Fund. International support continues via other channels: India delivered 47.5 tonnes of relief supplies, and the United States, United Kingdom, World Bank, and Asian Development Bank pledged financial aid. South Korea pledged $1 million in humanitarian aid and continues to negotiate for the deployment of a disaster relief team to locate missing nationals.

Search efforts face extreme difficulty due to high altitudes, frigid environments, and geological hazards from glaciers. The Nepal Police deployed 4,348 personnel to lead the operations. Meanwhile, the disaster extended into China, where landslides in Tibet's Gyirong county left five dead and 558 missing. Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged urgent emergency aid and called for a scientific search and rescue plan to locate the missing.