External Assistance Following Bhote Koshi-Trishuli Floods: What Does Nepal Need and What Has It Received?
Image source, Indian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS
With search and rescue operations ongoing after the devastating floods, coordination with the international community has been taking place focused on four to five critical types of aid. Officials have confirmed that some assistance has already been received while more is expected.
“From the outset, we have coordinated on requirements such as tunnel search teams, scanners capable of detecting signals if any survivors are trapped, forensic technology for immediate DNA analysis, freezers to store bodies, and Bailey bridges,” said Lok Bahadur Paudel Kshetri, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Numerous workers are believed to be trapped inside the tunnels of various hydropower projects located in the Bhote Koshi-Trishuli corridor.
While some have criticized the government for not seeking foreign experts for search and rescue efforts, which they say has put many lives at risk, the Ministry spokesperson refuted these claims.
“There have been claims that the government did not initially request assistance for search and rescue, but expert teams from China and India have already reached the affected areas and are actively working,” Kshetri said.
“This means that coordination was ongoing behind the scenes. There was only a brief period of uncertainty on the day of the incident, after which coordination with friendly countries commenced. It’s not that we refused assistance.”
However, Govind Raj Pokharel, former head of the Reconstruction Authority after the 2015 earthquake, commented that the government failed to keep pace with the urgency of requirements at the time.
“Even though donor countries showed interest in providing assistance, the government did not present clear requests from the outset. In several areas where road networks are disrupted, helicopters have still not been able to reach for rescue and relief. Helicopters were requested and received during the earthquake.”
“Similarly, there was awareness that the flood level indicated significant damage and there were shortages of body bags and freezers, but even managing 400 to 500 bodies proved challenging.”
What Assistance Has Been Received So Far?
Image source, Indian Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS
According to officials, several expert teams have arrived in Nepal for rescue operations since the severe floods on Wednesday, and aid supplies are continuously arriving.
“In some hydropower project tunnels in the Bhote Koshi-Trishuli region, up to 20 meters of silt brought by the flood has accumulated, hindering our rescue efforts,” Dharma Raj Upreti, Executive Chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, told the BBC. “Specialist teams from India and China are currently working there alongside our security forces.”
“Other countries have also offered assistance for rescue operations, but as work has been ongoing since Saturday, we are currently in a ‘wait and watch’ position. We will call for additional help if needed.”
Phanindra Prasad Paudel, head of the National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, told the BBC on Sunday afternoon that a 24-member team including tunnel experts from India is engaged at the Chilime project, while a group of 16 Chinese experts is working at the Upper Trishuli project.
Additionally, Upreti informed that scanners capable of detecting whether individuals are alive inside rubble or underground areas have also been received and deployed to areas where search and rescue operations are ongoing.
According to the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, a forensic expert group has also arrived from India. Furthermore, various aid materials have been received from India, China, and the UAE.
“Additional supplies are en route, with many items intended specifically for search and rescue operations,” Kshetri said.
These include tarpaulins, ropes, body bags, generators, solar lights, and medicines.
“The process of receiving and distributing these items to affected locations is ongoing,” Upreti added.
He further explained that due to the need for vehicles capable of traversing areas without roads or with rough terrain, coordination is underway with neighboring India to procure such vehicles. “Two such vehicles are also on the way.”
What Are Nepal’s Needs?
Image source, Reuters
According to the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kshetri, ongoing assessments continue regarding further material needs as well.
“There is always a possibility that needs may arise at any time for any supplies. Accordingly, we maintain coordination with friendly nations.”
While coordination is currently focused on immediate search and rescue efforts, he noted that aid will also be required for subsequent relief and reconstruction phases.
The government has requested numerous Bailey bridges from neighboring countries as part of the rescue efforts.
A Bailey bridge is a type of temporary, quickly assembled and transportable bridge composed of prefabricated components.
According to the Department of Roads, about 40 bridges were destroyed in the recent floods.
“We requested Bailey bridges on the very day the flood occurred. Those are in the process of arriving from China and India, and close to 40 in number are expected,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kshetri.
Upreti, head of the Disaster Management Authority, mentioned that because key locations like Kathmandu and Narayangadh were not affected, there is less urgency for relief materials.
“Only one corridor has been impacted, so we can supply food items ourselves. Hence, we have not requested external relief assistance for that purpose,” he said. “Nevertheless, for those who wish to provide aid, we have been requesting necessary materials for body management.”
“In the next phase, we will need materials for temporary shelters, so we will seek some support for that as well before entering the ‘long-term recovery’ phase.”
Reconstruction and Rehabilitation
Image source, EPA/Shutterstock
Extensive damage to dense settlements and physical infrastructure has led to projections for substantial funding needs in the reconstruction phase.
Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has stated that active discussions are underway with the Ministry of Finance to prepare the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report as soon as possible.
Economist and former CEO of the Earthquake Reconstruction Authority, Govind Raj Pokharel, emphasizes the necessity of distinguishing reconstruction sectors following rescue and relief work. “Once sectors such as water supply and schools are identified, a recovery framework should be developed to present to development partners.”
According to Ministry of Finance officials, only initial work is underway to collect data on damages at this stage.
“There are commitments coming from various countries and development partners. As damage is limited to a specific geographic area, we expect to complete the PDNA within a month,” said spokesperson Amrit Lamsal.
Lamsal further explained that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has pledged a grant of $500,000, while there is potential for concessional loans up to $17 million from the World Bank.
“We have preliminarily identified which sectors could receive aid immediately after the incident. This will become clearer after the PDNA.”
