Nepal first refused aid, then asked India and China for tunnel rescue teams
Nepal's government asked India and China for specialist help, including tunnel rescue, to fill gaps in its own operations, with teams expected later on Saturday. Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said Nepal has not rejected international rescue offers. Nepal's police put the death toll at 626 and the missing at at least 1,924; Kathmandu also requested refrigeration units.
Geopolitics··Evening
Kathmandu asks again for specialist teams
Nepal's government has asked India and China for specialist help, including tunnel rescue, to fill gaps in its own operations, Al Jazeera's Minelle Fernandez reported from Kathmandu, with the teams expected later on Saturday. Nepal had initially declined assistance to avoid the disruption that large foreign contingents bring; the foreign ministry spokesman put the change down to lives being at stake and the urgency of the situation. A tunnel rescue team from India had reached the country, and two search-and-rescue teams from China were preparing to depart. Nepal's police put the number killed at 626, and the national disaster authority reported at least 1924 people missing. Chinese authorities reported at least seven dead and 558 missing in Tibet. The disaster began on Wednesday when part of a glacier collapsed at roughly 5200 m; at one point the surge raised the Trishuli River by 9 m in 30 minutes. Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited Gyirong on Thursday, and President Xi Jinping ordered stronger monitoring of glacial lakes. The disaster began on Wednesday when part of a glacier collapsed at roughly 5200 m and fell about 1200 m into the Lende River; at one point the surge raised the Trishuli River by 9 m in 30 minutes.[2]
The minister says aid offers were not rejected
Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said on Saturday that Nepal has not turned down offers of international rescue assistance. He said decisions on foreign personnel and equipment follow the recommendations of Nepali security agencies running rescue work on the ground. Kathmandu has asked foreign governments and international agencies for emergency refrigeration to preserve remains, with talks under way with the International Committee of the Red Cross and no commitment secured so far. The two worst-hit districts remain largely cut off after roads and about 40 bridges were destroyed, leaving helicopters as the main way in. Tunnel crews and refrigeration units top Nepal's list of flood-aid requests. Khanal's statement aimed to correct the impression that Kathmandu had blocked all outside help entirely. The minister stressed that decisions followed needs on the ground rather than a blanket central refusal. The refrigeration request came as higher death and missing counts made identification and return to families harder. The refrigeration request came as higher death and missing counts made identification harder. Talks with the International Committee of the Red Cross are under way with no commitment secured so far.[1]
The death and missing tolls keep rising
Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited Gyirong on Thursday after the disaster, and President Xi Jinping ordered officials to strengthen monitoring of glacial lakes. Aid has also come from the UN, the Red Cross Federation, Australia, South Korea and the US. The collapse of part of a glacier falling about 1200 m into the Lende River is described as the starting point of the disaster. Nepal's shift from limiting aid to requesting specialist teams came as rescue capacity appeared to be running short quickly. The report says international team capacity and arrival times may still change; Nepali authorities expect teams later on Saturday. Chinese authorities reported at least seven dead and 558 missing in Tibet. The disaster began on Wednesday when part of a glacier collapsed at roughly 5200 m and fell about 1200 m into the Lende River; at one point the surge raised the Trishuli River by 9 m in 30 minutes. Death and missing figures may also be updated. Aid has also come from the UN, the Red Cross Federation, Australia, South Korea and the US; death and missing figures may still be updated. Nepal's police put the number killed at 626, and the national disaster authority reported at least 1924 people missing.[2]
