KATHMANDU: When Nepal’s darkest hour came, the world did not look away. As a devastating flash flood tore through Rasuwa, leaving a trail of death and destruction, countries near and far responded with condolences, rescue assistance, humanitarian aid and financial support.
The August 26 disaster along the Bhotekoshi River brought unprecedented devastation to Nepal’s northern border region, sweeping away people, vehicles and infrastructure and leaving communities cut off. Roads, bridges, buildings, marketplaces and hydropower projects were severely damaged, while the death toll had crossed 547 by Saturday morning.
What followed the disaster was a remarkable show of international solidarity. From neighboring India and China to the United States, Britain, Australia, South Korea and countries across Europe and Asia, governments and international organizations stepped forward to support Nepal’s rescue and relief efforts, underscoring the strength of friendship in a time of extraordinary crisis.
Among the most notable expressions of solidarity came from US President Donald Trump, who described the disaster as “brutal” while speaking to reporters at the Oval Office.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda also held talks with Prime Minister Shah and reaffirmed the bank’s continued support for Nepal, including assistance with disaster risk assessments, early-warning mechanisms and the development of resilient infrastructure.
“The damage to structures in Nepal was like being swept away like a toothpick,” Trump said. He said the disaster was not simply a flood, but a mixture of mud and water that caused unprecedented destruction.
“No one had ever seen such a scene before. There were big and strong buildings there that were washed away like toothpicks,” he said.
Trump also said the United States had good relations with Nepal and was prepared to provide whatever assistance was necessary.
“It’s very sad. No, we are sending aid. We have spoken to the leadership there. We have informed them that we will provide whatever they need,” he said.
Asked about the situation of American tourists in the affected areas, Trump said he had not yet received a confirmed figure or list of US citizens affected by the floods. He expressed hope that they were safe and said he had spoken with Nepal’s leadership and offered whatever assistance was needed. He estimated that around 50 to 60 American citizens might have been in the affected area, while acknowledging that the exact number had not yet been confirmed.
The United States had earlier announced $500,000 in assistance for communities affected by the devastating flash floods in Rasuwa.
According to the US Department of State, the assistance would be provided through its global award with Catholic Relief Services and would support emergency shelter, relief supplies, and water, sanitation and hygiene services.
The department also said it was closely monitoring the situation and would deploy a disaster response adviser to the region to support ongoing response efforts.
India extends immediate support
India, Nepal’s southern neighbor, was among the first countries to extend assistance following the disaster.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephone conversation with Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah on August 26 and expressed condolences over the loss of lives and property caused by the floods.
“Spoke to Prime Minister Balendra Shah. Expressed my condolences for the loss of life and property due to the floods in Nepal. The people of India stand with their sisters and brothers in Nepal in this difficult time,” Modi said in a post on social media.
Modi said India was ready to provide humanitarian assistance to Nepal and that Indian teams were coordinating closely with Nepali authorities on rescue and relief operations.
Meanwhile, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a high-level review meeting on the situation.
“Immediate efforts are being made to ascertain the condition and welfare of all Indians in the flood-affected areas. The Ministry of External Affairs is coordinating with various ministries, state governments, tour operators and project authorities in this regard. We are working closely with the Nepali side,” Jaishankar said.
India subsequently announced preparations to send a tunnel rescue team to Nepal at the request of the Nepali government. Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said a reconnaissance team would first assess the situation and determine the materials and equipment required for the rescue operation. A team of health workers would also be sent to Nepal.
Jaiswal said India had a Bailey bridge available in Nepal that could be used if required. Nepal had also written to India and China on Friday requesting 42 Bailey bridges.
India offered to deploy rescuers from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to Nepal and said it was awaiting Nepal’s response.
Jaiswal also said preparations were underway to send a third aircraft carrying around 13 tonnes of relief materials to Kathmandu.
He further informed that 21 people from Tamil Nadu who had been rescued from Nepal had arrived in New Delhi. Jaishankar thanked the Nepali Army and the Government of Nepal for their efforts in rescuing them.
India has sent 50 tonnes of humanitarian assistance to Nepal, including temporary shelters, blankets, relief kits, solar lamps, medicines and food. Indian Air Force aircraft transported the supplies to Kathmandu, while the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu has continued coordinating with the Nepali government.
Support from Britain, UN
The United Kingdom and the British royal family also expressed deep sorrow over the disaster and announced support for rescue, relief and financial assistance.
The UK Government has pledged £5 million (more than NPR 100 crore) in emergency assistance to support Nepal’s response to the devastating floods in Rasuwa and surrounding areas. The funding will support rescue and recovery operations and provide assistance to people affected by the disaster.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham also described the scenes in Nepal as “extremely heartbreaking” and said the scale of destruction was unprecedented. “We are in constant contact with the relevant agencies to provide assistance,” he said.
Burnham said Britain had proposed sending emergency rescuers to the affected areas, subject to a decision by the Government of Nepal.
The UK Government further said it would continue coordinating with Nepali authorities to support communities affected by the flash floods.
Likewise, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep sorrow over the devastation caused by the floods.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and widespread destruction caused by severe flooding in Nepal and China,” he said, extending condolences to the families of the victims and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
Guterres said UN teams and partners were mobilizing emergency supplies and personnel. Tom Fletcher, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, described the flooding as “horrific” and allocated $2 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund.
Pakistan, China, South Korea and Australia
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Friday afternoon to convey his heartfelt condolences over the tragic loss of lives and widespread devastation caused by the recent flash floods and landslides.
“Pakistan stands in full solidarity with the Government and people of Nepal during this difficult hour,” Sharif said, assuring Nepal of Pakistan’s full support. He added that Pakistan was dispatching emergency relief assistance to support the ongoing relief efforts.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung convened an emergency meeting over the situation and directed officials to review in advance the manpower and other assistance that could be provided to Nepal.
South Korea pledged $1 million in humanitarian assistance to Nepal through international organizations, the country’s foreign minister said in a post on X.
Chinese President Xi Jinping directed officials to mobilize all available capabilities for the search and rescue of people missing in the floods and landslides. He also called for scientific rescue operations and special precautions to prevent secondary disasters.
Xi also sent a condolence message to President Ram Chandra Paudel, expressing sorrow over the devastating floods and landslides in Nepal.
On Friday, Xi convened an emergency meeting of the Communist Party of China and directed officials to pay special attention to the barrier lake formed by the landslide during ongoing rescue operations.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed deep sympathy over the disaster and said Australian authorities were working urgently to obtain information about Australian citizens in the affected areas. Australia also announced an aid package worth A$5 million.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong held a telephone conversation with Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal on Friday. The discussion focused on the loss of lives and infrastructure and ongoing search, rescue and relief efforts in flood-hit areas, including Rasuwa and Nuwakot.
Wong expressed deep sorrow, on behalf of the Australian government, over the loss of lives and pledged all possible support to Nepal.
Support from Other Countries and International Agencies
Sri Lanka announced $1 million in humanitarian assistance, while President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed deep condolences to the people of Nepal.
Switzerland also announced a contribution of at least $1 million. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed deep concern over the disaster and conveyed his thoughts to the victims and their families.
The Vatican said Pope Leo XIV was saddened by the deaths and destruction caused by the floods and conveyed his condolences.
Likewise, the European Union (EU) has allocated €2 million in humanitarian aid to support victims of the flash floods in Nepal. “The emergency funding will help address immediate needs, including food, healthcare, clean water and sanitation. EU-funded partners are already providing assistance on the ground,” it said.
The latest assistance comes in addition to nearly €3 million in humanitarian aid allocated by the EU to Nepal at the beginning of the year for disaster preparedness. EU-funded partners in the country began providing assistance immediately after the disaster, using pre-positioned shelter materials and distributing relief items.
Meanwhile, the EU is also deploying its Rapid Response Coordinator for Asia to help coordinate the bloc’s response. To support the local response, the EU has activated the Copernicus satellite service to provide maps of the affected areas. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe was ready to mobilize additional assistance. The European Union also activated the Copernicus satellite system to help map flood-affected areas.
Israel also expressed solidarity with Nepal. Israeli Ambassador to Nepal Shmulik Arie Bass said Israel was committed to supporting Nepal and working closely with the Government of Nepal and relevant authorities in relief, rescue, recovery and humanitarian assistance.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Israel, I, together with my government, am committed to supporting Nepal and to working closely with the Government of Nepal and relevant authorities in whatever way we can contribute to relief, rescue, recovery, and humanitarian assistance,” he said.
“At this moment, our priority must be the people—saving lives, supporting affected families, helping those who have lost their homes, and standing beside communities facing this unimaginable hardship,” he added.
The Nepal Relief Fund has received commitments totaling $229 million, including pledges from India, China and the United States. The Government of Nepal has adopted a single-door system through the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund to ensure that assistance is collected and distributed in an orderly and coordinated manner.
International humanitarian agencies have also mobilized assistance. The World Health Organization has sent medical kits capable of providing basic healthcare to 10,000 people for three months, while the World Food Programme and UNICEF have prepared relief supplies.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has provided a one-million-Swiss-franc emergency fund to the Nepal Red Cross Society.
“The priority now is to reach the affected communities and provide assistance to those who have lost their homes, are injured or have lost contact,” said David Fisher, the Red Cross representative in Nepal.
The World Bank has said that up to Rs 25 billion could be mobilized for Nepal as emergency assistance.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda also held talks with Prime Minister Shah and reaffirmed the bank’s continued support for Nepal, including assistance with disaster risk assessments, early-warning mechanisms and the development of resilient infrastructure.
Meanwhile, France-based Médecins Sans Frontières has deployed an emergency medical team to Nepal, while Save the Children has started distributing relief supplies to families in areas that can only be reached by helicopter.
The Nepal Relief Fund has received commitments totaling $229 million, including pledges from India, China and the United States. The Government of Nepal has adopted a single-door system through the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund to ensure that assistance is collected and distributed in an orderly and coordinated manner.
Comment