Nepal seeks foreign expertise after devastating floods

Nepal, after a glacier-induced catastrophe on its Himalayan border with China, says it can handle general search and rescue with its own teams but needs foreign technical help for specialized tasks such as tunnel rescues, restoring transport and communication links, and identifying and preserving bodies through DNA testing. Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal described a targeted request for technical expertise in areas where Nepal lacks know-how, while maintaining that broader foreign involvement in search and rescue is unnecessary at this time. Nepal has asked neighboring India and China to provide Bailey bridges to reopen damaged transport routes in the disaster-hit region, which has left nearly 600 dead and more than 2,000 still unaccounted for. The government’s stance, reiterated in multiple reports, emphasizes a distinction between managing immediate rescue operations and seeking specialized assistance for difficult tasks. These developments come as Nepal coordinates international support and negotiates what kinds of aid are most needed in the aftermath of the floods and mudslides. Updated reporting confirms ongoing efforts and the continuing need to address missing persons and infrastructure restoration along the border with Tibet.