Nepal thanks India, global partners after floods, denies rejecting aid

Kathmandu,UPDATED: Aug 29, 2026 19:28 IST

Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal on Saturday thanked the international community, including India, for support after devastating flash floods killed more than 650 people. He also rejected reports in national and foreign media that Nepal had turned down international help.

At his first press briefing at Singhdurbar since the disaster, Khanal said support would be needed not only for rescue and relief but even more for rebuilding because of the scale of destruction. He said Nepal was continuing relief operations, assessing the damage and would seek further help from neighbours and international partners if required.

Khanal said, "We have seen some false reports circulating in national and foreign media that Nepal rejected international assistance and support." He added, "The support and assistance are required, not just in the phase of rescue and relief, but more so in the phase of reconstruction, seeing the scale of devastation." Thanking countries that had extended help, he said, "We are deeply grateful to our friends and partners for their solidarity, goodwill and generous efforts of support at this difficult time."

He said Nepal had received more than 57 tonnes of relief material from India and that essential items were also arriving from China, Japan, Australia and other friendly nations on Saturday. Asked whether Nepal needed foreign help for search and rescue operations, Khanal said the government would accept specific and specialised assistance from friendly countries.

On Friday, Khanal had said, " assistance was not rejected, but the rescue strategy was decided based on national capacity, immediate need and Nepal's unique geographical situation." He had added, "Since deploying an external rescue team in unfamiliar terrain can add complexity to coordination and technical management and may also create unforeseen risks, rescue operations were carried out using the available national capacity."

An ice-rock avalanche after a glacial collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border sent a torrent of water, mud and debris through central Nepal on Wednesday, destroying towns and villages, washing away homes, vehicles, roads and bridges, and damaging hydropower projects. The death toll crossed 650 on Saturday, while more than 2,400 people remained missing as rescue teams worked amid intermittent rain in the affected areas.

Nepal Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle also praised India's help during the crisis and described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "exceptionally generous". Speaking to PTI Videos, Wagle said New Delhi had indicated it would provide generous assistance for reconstruction. Since Wednesday, India has sent 57.6 tonnes of relief material to flood-hit parts of Nepal, while an 11-member Indian team of medical personnel and tunnel rescue experts has arrived to assist local authorities after a request from Kathmandu. Overall, Nepal has thanked partner countries for immediate help and said more assistance may be sought as rescue, relief and reconstruction continue.

With PTI Inputs

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