Nepal Declines Foreign Rescue Teams as South Korea Seeks Deployment Amid Deadly Floods

Nepal has declined offers of international search-and-rescue assistance following devastating flash floods, saying that its own security forces are currently managing rescue operations and that foreign teams are “not currently needed.”

The decision comes as several countries have offered support amid a rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis. South Korea is negotiating with Nepal over the possible deployment of a Korean rescue team to areas affected by the floods.

South Korean authorities said nine South Korean citizens remain missing, while another 10 are stranded at a hydropower project site in Nepal.

At the time of Reuters’ initial reporting, the disaster had killed nearly 500 people, with subsequent reports indicating that the death toll continued to rise as rescue teams reached more devastated areas.

Countries including India, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh have reportedly offered search-and-rescue assistance to Nepal.

Despite Nepal’s current decision not to accept foreign rescue teams, South Korea has said it will continue supporting relief efforts. The country plans to provide $1 million in humanitarian aid through international organizations.

With roads, bridges, and other infrastructure damaged by the floods, reaching isolated communities remains a major challenge. Authorities continue rescue and recovery operations while assessing the full scale of the disaster.

Source: NDTV