Nepal denies rejecting foreign flood aid, seeks India-China help for 42 Bailey bridges

Nepal on Friday rejected suggestions that it had turned down international assistance following the catastrophic flash floods, saying the decision to rely primarily on domestic security forces during the initial rescue phase was based on operational requirements rather than reluctance to accept foreign help. Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force were being deployed extensively because of their familiarity with the country’s difficult terrain and local conditions. The clarification came as Nepal battled one of its worst natural disasters in recent years. At least 579 people have been killed and nearly 1,000 remain missing after Wednesday’s flash floods devastated Rasuwa and several other parts of central Nepal.

Local forces given priority

Khanal said Kathmandu had neither rejected offers from friendly countries nor closed the door on international participation in the disaster response.

Instead, the government assessed its immediate requirements and decided that Nepalese forces were better positioned to conduct the first phase of search-and-rescue operations in mountainous areas.

Foreign teams unfamiliar with the terrain could face operational and coordination difficulties, potentially complicating rescue efforts in unstable and hazardous locations, he said.

The minister added that Nepal remained prepared to seek specialised international assistance for particularly difficult operations requiring technical expertise beyond the capacity immediately available within the country.

Several countries, including India, have offered assistance since the scale of the disaster became apparent.

Nepal seeks 42 Bailey bridges

Even as it relies heavily on domestic personnel for rescue work, Nepal has approached India and China for assistance in restoring crucial transport links destroyed by the floods.

Kathmandu has requested help in constructing 42 Bailey bridges after more than three dozen bridges were washed away, severely disrupting road connectivity across affected areas.

Bailey bridges are prefabricated structures that can be assembled comparatively quickly and are frequently deployed to restore temporary connectivity following disasters or damage to permanent bridges.

Restoring road access has become increasingly important as authorities attempt to reach isolated communities and move food, medicines, rescue equipment and other essential supplies into devastated areas.

Relief materials urgently needed

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has separately appealed to international development partners, donor agencies, NGOs, businesses and civil society organisations for essential relief supplies.

Shelter materials, food and hygiene products are among the items urgently required as thousands of displaced people struggle with the aftermath of the floods.

The government’s approach consequently distinguishes between deploying foreign rescue personnel and accepting international material and technical assistance.

India sends two tranches of aid

India has already dispatched two consignments of humanitarian assistance to Nepal for relief and rehabilitation operations.

The floods have caused extensive destruction to settlements, roads, bridges and hydropower facilities, leaving authorities facing the simultaneous challenges of finding missing people, supporting survivors and restoring basic infrastructure.

With hundreds still unaccounted for, rescue operations remain underway while Nepal begins assessing the enormous reconstruction effort that will follow.