Nepal floods: Foreign minister rejects reports of climate compensation demand from India

Nepal Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has clarified that neither he nor the countrys government sought climaterelated compensation from India China or the United States following last weeks devastating flash floods saying Kathmandus appeal was instead for greater global recognition of the longterm impact of climate change on vulnerable countriesKhanal made the clarification on Thursday in response to reports attributing remarks to him about seeking climaterelated compensation from neighbouring countries and major global powersNeither I nor anyone in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the government of Nepal has claimed or asked for compensation from India or any other country including China or the United States Khanal told ANINepal calls for global action on climate changeThe Foreign Minister said Nepals position was focused on the broader climate crisis and the growing impact of rising temperatures on Himalayan communitiesOur call has been for the global community to look at this disaster from the perspective of climate change and the impact its having in Nepal he addedKhanal said India China and Nepal shared environmental ecosystems as well as cultural and historical links making regional cooperation important in preparing for the consequences of climate change in the Himalayan regionHe said Kathmandu wanted the international community to look beyond immediate disaster relief and consider the longerterm effects of rising temperatures and climate change on communitiesOur call is for all these three countries to come together to be better prepared but for the global community to support and particularly to look at this disaster not just as a onetime event or just to not look at it or to look at it as a onetime support but to think about the impact raising temperature and climate change is having in communities across the world So it is our call the government of Nepals call is for the global community to come together and support smaller nations like Nepal he saidKhanal added that Nepal shared similar pain similar burden and similar challenge with India and ChinaWe stand ready to collaborate to save our civilisation our heritage our culture and our future together he saidIndia remains in contact with Kathmandu over relief needsKhanals clarification came as Nepal continued to receive international humanitarian assistance following the devastating floodsAsked about communication with New Delhi regarding additional areas where Nepal may require support Khanal said Indian officials had been in contact with Kathmandu from the immediate aftermath of the disasterIn this disaster context right after the disaster we began to receive communication from Indian officials and they have placed all kinds of support and they have said they are standing ready to provide any support that the government of Nepal needs he saidKhanal said India had provided relief supplies rescue materials and forensic support and that the two governments remained in communication as new requirements emergedWeve been communicating as need arises and the government of India has fully supported our initiative So in the future also as new requirements come up we communicate and they stand ready to provide support he saidIndia expands humanitarian assistance to NepalIndia expanded its emergency humanitarian response on Thursday by sending two additional C130J aircraft carrying 215 tonnes of relief assistance to Kathmandu including forensic kits and medical supplies according to the Ministry of External AffairsIndias first relief aircraft arrived in Nepal on August 26 with 10 tonnes of supplies including temporary shelters blankets hygiene kits solar lamps and medicinesA second flight on August 27 carried 375 tonnes of relief material including tents blankets hygiene kits solar lamps dewatering pumps kitchen sets generators medicines and food items A subsequent consignment carried another 10 tonnesIndia later sent a fifth aircraft carrying an 11member rescue team specialised equipment and 55 tonnes of essential medicines on WednesdayKhanal also expressed hope that India would support Nepal during the reconstruction and recovery phase recalling New Delhis assistance following the 2015 earthquake and other disastersThe Government of India has been very generous he said expressing gratitude to the Indian government and peopleWe are very hopeful that the government of India will stand with us in the stage of reconstruction as well Khanal saidFlood death toll rises to 1259Meanwhile the death toll from the catastrophic Rasuwa floods in Nepal has risen to 1259 according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority as of 7 pm on ThursdayThe authority said Chitwan recorded the highest number of recovered bodies at 355 including unidentified human remains Nawalparasi East recorded 218 recovered bodies followed by Nawalparasi West with 212 Nuwakot with 177 Rasuwa with 127 Gorkha with 72 Dhading with 60 and Tanahun with 38A total of 95 bodies have been officially handed over to families according to the authorityUS also expands relief assistanceThe United States has also expanded its humanitarian response to NepalUS Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said two US military cargo aircraft delivered 5000 specialised disaster victim recovery supplies 500 first aid kits stretchers and frontend loaders to support Nepalled search rescue and recovery operationsThe disaster began after a catastrophic flash flood struck the TibetNepal border on August 26 sending a powerful surge of water sediment and boulders through the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems and causing widespread destructionWith inputs from ANI