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At such a time, many countries including India and China had offered to send expert search-and-rescue teams to Nepal, but the Nepal government has currently not allowed these foreign teams to conduct operations in its territory.

Nepal says that its own security agencies are capable of handling this rescue operation. However, the government has also clarified that this does not mean that Nepal has stopped taking help from the international community.

517 foreign nationals still missing

This decision of Nepal is also being discussed because after the flood, information about 517 foreign nationals missing or out of contact has come to light. These include citizens of many countries including India, China, America, Malaysia, Ukraine, Britain, Australia, Canada.

In such a situation, it is natural to ask that when a large number of foreign citizens are also affected and the rescue operation in the area is extremely challenging, then why did Nepal not allow expert teams from other countries to come? The answer lies in the experience of Nepal’s previous disaster.

The experience of 2015 earthquake became a major reason

The biggest reason behind this decision of Nepal is being said to be the devastating earthquake of 2015. At that time, many countries of the world had sent their search-and-rescue teams to help Nepal… but according to Nepal government officials, after the arrival of a large number of foreign teams together, many problems had emerged in the coordination of relief and rescue operations.

It had become challenging to manage teams, agencies and resources from different countries together. Considering this past experience, this time Nepal has decided to keep the rescue operation more centralized.

According to reports, Nepal’s army and police believe that the country’s own security agencies can handle the ongoing search-and-rescue operation. Based on this advice, the proposal of foreign rescue teams has not been accepted at present.

This does not mean refusal of foreign aid

Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has clarified that the government has not completely rejected the assistance of friendly countries or the international community. He says that if a situation arises during a rescue operation that requires special technical expertise, especially during rescue in tunnels or other complex structures, then Nepal is ready to take international technical help. That is, Nepal is currently adopting the policy of taking expertise as per the need instead of allowing foreign teams to conduct operations directly on the ground.

Way of financial help in place of foreign teams

Nepal has adopted a policy of receiving economic assistance from foreign countries through a central system. For this, the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund has been made the main medium. The logic behind this arrangement is that if teams from different countries work together on the ground, then difficulties may arise regarding command, logistics and mutual coordination. In comparison, the Nepal government can deliver economic and humanitarian aid as per its discretion to those areas where it is needed most.

The Ministry of External Affairs has also created an Emergency Response Team for information, search-rescue, verification and consular assistance to foreign nationals. This team will work as coordination between different agencies.

India offered to send NDRF

India has also offered to send its expert rescue team to help Nepal. India has offered to send National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team and equipment to Nepal.

India’s Foreign Ministry has said that it is waiting for the response of Nepal Government. India is ready to provide whatever assistance Nepal needs. India’s concern is even greater because there have been reports of a large number of Indian citizens stranded or missing in the floods.

India has already sent more than 47.5 tons of relief material

Apart from offering to send a rescue team, India has also started the work of providing relief material. India has informed that more than 47.5 tonnes of relief material has been sent to Nepal. This includes medicines and food items.

India has also offered to provide Bailey bridges and prefab truss bridges to improve relief operations and connectivity. That is, India’s assistance is not limited to just sending rescue teams, but help is also being provided in providing relief material and restoring connectivity to the affected areas.

Many countries including China also offered help

Apart from India, China and other countries had also expressed their desire to send expert rescue teams to Nepal, but at present Nepal has not accepted all these proposals. Nepal says that it will definitely take technical and other expert help if needed. At present its priority is to carry forward the rescue operation in a systematic manner through its security forces.

America, Britain and World Bank also ready to help

After this disaster in Nepal, many international organizations including America, Britain and the World Bank have also announced help. America has expressed readiness to provide humanitarian assistance. Britain has also expressed concern about the affected people and especially the missing British citizens. At the same time, the Asian Development Bank has offered help in strengthening long-term disaster management capacity, early-warning system and infrastructure in Nepal.

Nepal faces double challenge

The challenge before Nepal at this time is not just to find the missing people. Due to floods and landslides in hilly areas, many places are difficult to reach. Apart from this, the presence of foreign citizens in the affected areas has made the rescue operation important at the international level.

Nepal’s decision has come at a time when 517 foreign nationals are reported missing. Therefore, it will be important to see in the coming days whether Nepal feels the need for foreign expert teams or whether its own security agencies can successfully complete the ongoing large-scale search-and-rescue operation.

At present, Nepal has made it clear that it has not closed the door to help from the world, but keeping control of the rescue operation in its hands is its first priority.