KATHMANDU: Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal briefed the diplomatic community in Kathmandu on Thursday on the latest situation following the devastating Bhotekoshi flood, saying the safety of foreign nationals and search and rescue operations remain among the government’s top priorities.
Ambassadors, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions, and representatives of international organizations, including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and United Nations, attended the briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Khanal briefed the participants on the disaster caused by the Bhotekoshi River flood at Rasuwagadhi on August 26, the government’s search and rescue operations, the situation of foreign nationals and the international assistance received so far.
He said the government’s immediate priorities are saving lives, conducting search and rescue operations and ensuring the safety of foreign nationals.
Describing the scale of the disaster, Khanal said the flood swept away huge amounts of soil and debris within minutes, causing extensive destruction downstream.
“I prefer to call it a Himalayan tsunami, because we have not experienced anything like this in recent memory,” he said.
The flood, which flowed from Rasuwa through the Trishuli and Narayani river systems, has severely affected communities and infrastructure in parts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Chitwan.
Khanal said the government is studying the causes and progression of the disaster with the support of relevant technical experts.
He said the government had prioritized search, rescue, safe relocation, treatment and relief operations from the first day of the disaster. Emergency meetings of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority and the Council of Ministers were convened, while available national resources were mobilized for the response.
According to Khanal, the Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force Nepal, along with federal, provincial and local authorities, health workers, emergency responders, volunteers and local communities, are continuing rescue and relief operations. More than 21,000 security personnel have been mobilized for search, rescue and relief efforts, he said.
Khanal said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is maintaining continuous coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, Nepal Police, Nepal Tourism Board, Nepali diplomatic missions abroad and families of foreign nationals who remain uncontacted.
The Emergency Control Room established at the Ministry and Nepali missions abroad are providing verified information to families, assisting with identification and, where necessary, facilitating arrangements for the repatriation of foreign nationals.
Khanal thanked diplomatic missions for providing information about their citizens who remain uncontacted, saying such details would significantly assist search, verification and identification efforts.
He said Nepal appreciates the solidarity and cooperation extended by the international community, particularly given the scale and complexity of the disaster.
The Foreign Minister expressed gratitude to India, China, South Korea, Japan, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Singapore, Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Latvia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Norway, Israel, Canada, Sri Lanka, Thailand and New Zealand for their assistance.
He also thanked the European Union, Asian Development Bank, World Bank, United Nations and other international organizations and friendly countries for their support.
According to Khanal, international assistance has included rescue expertise, equipment, logistics, medical and forensic support, as well as financial assistance.
Khanal said an initial assessment indicates that substantial resources will be required to rebuild infrastructure damaged by the Bhotekoshi floods.
He said that once a detailed assessment of the damage is completed, Nepal will formally communicate its reconstruction and rehabilitation needs to international partners and seek their support.
The government, he added, is committed to managing international assistance transparently and accountably, with clearly defined areas of intervention.
Khanal said the Bhotekoshi disaster should be viewed not only as an immediate humanitarian crisis but also in the context of increasing climate risks in the Himalayan region. He added that the disaster had once again highlighted the vulnerability of the Himalayas and mountainous countries to the effects of a rapidly warming climate.
“Despite Nepal’s negligible contribution to global emissions, the Nepali people are bearing a disproportionate and heavy burden of the impacts of the warming Himalayas,” he said.
Khanal said Nepal has long been drawing international attention to the issue, including through the first edition of the Sagarmatha Dialogue and the country’s international climate commitments. He stressed the need to turn commitments on climate justice, effective early warning systems, disaster preparedness and disaster-resilient reconstruction into concrete action.
In this context, he said Nepal had already written to the co-chairs of the Board of the Loss and Damage Fund seeking immediate assistance. Khanal said that although parts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading have been severely affected, the rest of Nepal remains safe and fully operational.
Airports across the country are operating normally, he said, adding that major tourist destinations—including Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, Lumbini, Janakpur, the Annapurna and Sagarmatha regions, and Bardiya—remain open to visitors. He stressed that tourism is an important source of livelihood for Nepali people and local communities and said tourist arrivals should continue despite the disaster.
Khanal urged diplomatic representatives to convey to their citizens and governments that Nepal remains safe and open. “Nepal is open and ready to welcome travelers with the same warmth and hospitality that our country is known for,” he said.
The Foreign Minister said the government would continue to work closely with international partners, mobilize all available national resources and regularly update the diplomatic community on the evolving disaster situation.
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