KATHMANDU: The government has clarified its position on questions and comments regarding why international rescue teams were not called in to assist search and rescue operations following the massive flood in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa.
Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said international assistance had not been rejected, but the rescue strategy was determined based on Nepal’s national capacity, immediate needs and unique geographical conditions.
He said that, given Nepal’s rugged terrain and local environmental conditions, rescue teams from the Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force have long been accustomed to working in such circumstances. Therefore, the government prioritized the maximum deployment of its own security forces during the initial phase of the rescue operation.
According to Minister Khanal, deploying external rescue teams in unfamiliar terrain can add complexity to coordination and technical management and may also create unforeseen risks. Therefore, the rescue operations were carried out using available national resources and capabilities.
“Our team is capable, and we are familiar with our geography. Our security forces—the army, police and armed police—are all involved in this,” he said.
Minister Khanal said it is natural for every country to rely on its own mechanisms to manage disasters as much as possible, rather than depending on foreign assistance. He said the government’s policy is to move forward confidently with the work that Nepal’s national mechanisms, structures and institutions are capable of handling on their own.
However, he clarified that the government has not rejected assistance from friendly countries or the international community. He said Nepal is ready to accept international assistance when necessary, particularly in situations requiring rescue inside tunnels or specialized technical expertise to deal with extremely complex physical structures.
“Wherever we need additional technical capacity, we collaborate as required,” the Foreign Minister said.
He added that the government is in continuous dialogue and coordination with friendly countries on the matter and reiterated that Nepal has a clear policy of receiving technical assistance whenever necessary.
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