Date: August 29, 2026
Reporter: Kim White
Nepal is seeking specialized international assistance following a devastating flood that swept through communities along the country's Himalayan border with China, but the government says it does not require foreign teams to conduct general search-and-rescue operations.
Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal told Reuters that Nepal needs assistance in highly specialized and technical areas where the country lacks sufficient expertise, including rescuing people trapped inside tunnels, restoring damaged transportation and communications infrastructure, identifying victims and conducting DNA testing.
The disaster has devastated parts of Nepal and China's Tibet region, destroying buildings, bridges, roads and hydropower infrastructure and leaving thousands of people missing.
According to the latest figures reported by Reuters, at least 669 people have died in Nepal and seven in Tibet, while nearly 3,000 people remain missing, including more than 540 foreign nationals.
Nepal Wants Specialized Help
Khanal said Nepal's position should not be interpreted as a rejection of international assistance. Instead, the government is asking foreign countries to provide expertise and equipment for tasks that require specialized capabilities.
Among the areas where assistance is needed are tunnel rescue operations, restoring transport and communications links where bridges and other infrastructure have been destroyed, identifying bodies and conducting DNA testing.
The request reflects the scale and complexity of the disaster, which has affected remote mountainous areas where access is extremely difficult.
Search and Rescue Operations Resume
Nepal temporarily suspended search-and-rescue operations on August 29 because of heavy rain and poor visibility, but authorities later resumed the effort as weather conditions improved.
Rescue teams have been working through enormous quantities of mud and debris while searching for people believed to be trapped or missing.
The difficult terrain has made the operation particularly challenging, with destroyed roads and bridges limiting access to affected communities.
The disaster has also created additional risks for rescuers, including the possibility of further flooding from lakes and water bodies formed or affected by the collapse of glaciers and other geological events.
Thousands Remain Missing
The number of missing people has continued to rise as authorities gain access to previously isolated areas.
Nearly 3,000 people are believed to be missing across Nepal and Tibet, including hundreds of foreign nationals. Many of those missing are believed to have been tourists, pilgrims, workers and residents caught in the disaster.
The large number of missing people has placed enormous pressure on rescue teams and families desperate for information about their loved ones.
In some locations, authorities have recovered bodies in an advanced state of decomposition, making visual identification difficult. Officials are collecting DNA samples as part of efforts to establish the identities of victims before burial.
Infrastructure Devastated
The flooding has caused extensive damage to Nepal's infrastructure. Bridges and roads have been destroyed, cutting off communities and making it difficult for rescue teams to reach affected areas.
Hydropower facilities have also suffered major damage, threatening electricity supplies and adding to the country's economic challenges.
The destruction of communications infrastructure has further complicated rescue operations by making it difficult for authorities and residents to maintain contact with one another.
Foreign technical assistance could therefore play an important role in restoring critical infrastructure while rescue and recovery operations continue.
Reconstruction Could Cost Billions
Nepal is already looking beyond the immediate rescue operation and assessing the enormous cost of rebuilding.
Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle estimated that reconstruction could require between $4 billion and $5 billion.
That figure represents a substantial portion of Nepal's economy and illustrates the scale of the destruction caused by the disaster.
The government will need international financial support as well as technical expertise to rebuild roads, bridges, hydropower plants and other essential infrastructure.
China and India Provide Assistance
Neighbouring countries have been among those responding to the disaster. China has dispatched specialists to assist with technical rescue operations, including efforts involving damaged hydropower infrastructure. India has also provided relief supplies and technical assistance.
The international response is expected to expand as governments assess what Nepal needs during the rescue, recovery and reconstruction phases.
Nepal's request for technical assistance allows foreign governments to contribute specialized equipment and expertise while leaving domestic authorities in charge of the broader search-and-rescue operation.
Families Continue Searching for Loved Ones
For families of those missing, the continuing uncertainty has been devastating. Many people have spent days waiting for information about relatives who were in affected communities or travelling through the region when the flooding struck.
The presence of foreign nationals among the missing has also prompted governments around the world to seek information from Nepalese authorities.
The lack of reliable communication from some of the worst-hit areas has made it difficult for families to establish whether their relatives survived.
Health Risks Increase
The recovery of large numbers of bodies has created additional public-health concerns. Authorities are attempting to identify victims and properly manage remains, while also taking precautions against potential disease risks.
DNA testing has become an important part of the process because some victims cannot be identified through conventional methods.
The difficult environmental conditions, damaged infrastructure and limited access to some areas have made the recovery process even more complicated.
A Long Road to Recovery
The immediate priority remains finding survivors and recovering those who have died, but the scale of the destruction means Nepal is already facing a lengthy recovery process. The government will need to restore transportation networks, communications, electricity infrastructure and other essential services while supporting thousands of displaced residents.
The estimated $4 billion to $5 billion reconstruction bill could place significant pressure on Nepal's economy and make international assistance essential.
For now, Nepal's government is emphasizing that it needs the international community's expertise rather than a large influx of foreign search-and-rescue teams. The distinction reflects Nepal's assessment of its own rescue capabilities and the specialized challenges created by the disaster.
As rescue operations continue and authorities gain access to more devastated communities, the full human and economic cost of the floods is expected to become clearer. The disaster has left Nepal facing one of its most difficult humanitarian and reconstruction challenges in years, with thousands still missing and billions of dollars needed to rebuild what the floods destroyed.