Kathmandu— In response to the devastation caused by the Bhotekoshi floods, Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has sought international assistance from countries including the USA, Singapore, China, Japan, South Korea, India, and others. The government is requesting essential items such as freezers, DNA testing kits, LiDAR technology, Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) services, and high-capacity drones to manage the dead bodies and aid in rescue operations.

International Support

Nepal has received airtight bags for managing deceased individuals' remains and is expecting more supplies. A team of 18 forensic experts from India specializing in DNA analysis arrived on August 29 to assist with identification efforts. Nepal's MoFA spokesperson, Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri, stated that the country has requested specific items like freezers, LiDAR technology, and DVI services from various countries including Singapore, China, Japan, and South Korea.

Singapore’s Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan assured Nepal of humanitarian assistance based on its needs during a phone call with Nepali Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal. The government is coordinating with international partners like the UAE, Myanmar, Qatar, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, and Bangladesh for additional support.

Ongoing Rescue Efforts

Nepalese agencies are collaborating with specialized technical teams from India and China to conduct tunnel rescue operations in Mailung (Chilime) and Syafrubesi. A team from South Korea is also mobilized for assistance. The MoFA has informed that a dedicated Emergency Control Room at the Ministry coordinates with relevant agencies and families of missing individuals, providing necessary support and facilitating identification and repatriation procedures.

As of Monday afternoon, 903 bodies have been recovered while about 4,200 people remain unaccounted for. Over 10,000 people have been rescued from the affected regions, including over 323 foreign nationals.

Future Rehabilitation Needs

Chhetri emphasized that a preliminary assessment of needs is currently underway and a detailed Post Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA) will be conducted to determine the actual figures for rehabilitation and reconstruction. The extensive damage to critical infrastructure, including houses, road networks, bridges, and hydropower facilities, necessitates international assistance.

The MoFA also highlighted that there has been regular real-time exchange of information between Nepal and China concerning hydrological and meteorological data, as well as flood risks and water-induced disasters.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.