Nuwakot (Nepal), Aug 30 (IANS) Amid ongoing rescue and relief operations following the devastating flash floods, Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal on Sunday said the government was “equally committed” to ensuring the safety of foreign nationals, at par with the citizens of the Himalayan Nation.
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said that so far 675 bodies had been recovered from mudslide-hit areas, with 2,498 people still missing.
Khanal was in the Trishuli area of Nepal’s Nuwakot district, one of the worst-hit regions, to oversee rescue operations.
Speaking to IANS, he referred to the tragedy as “one of the largest national disasters that Nepal has experienced in recent memory”.
“The Prime Minister (Balendra Shah) has asked all agencies to come together for all possible support…We are trying to do everything possible for the rescue of those affected in various regions,” he added.
Moreover, Shisir Khanal said: “As of yesterday, over 400 people have been rescued, and over 200 of them were foreign nationals.”
Mentioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s telephonic conversation with his Nepalese counterpart, Khanal expressed gratitude to India for extending “all the possible help”.
“I also spoke to my (Indian) counterpart S. Jaishankar regarding our needs. The Indian government has already sent four aircraft with relief supplies and even experts to support our rescue efforts. We are extremely grateful to India for the active support,” he said.
Further, the Foreign Minister asserted that the Nepal government “is equally committed to ensuring the safety and security of foreign nationals, as much as Nepali nationals”.
“We have a dedicated helpline at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, especially for foreign nationals to seek help,” he added.
A total of 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries have been identified as unaccounted for after a mudslide struck Gyirong Port on the Tibet-Nepal border in Xizang on August 26, local authorities said on Sunday.
Officials said that 49 Indians are among the 261 missing foreigners.
The figure was announced at a press conference held by the information office of the regional government in Nepal, following a joint search and cross-checking of information by foreign affairs, public security, culture and tourism, and emergency management authorities.
–IANS
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