KATHMANDU: India, China and the World Bank have moved to support Nepal’s emergency response following the devastating floods that caused widespread damage in Rasuwa and downstream areas, with assistance being coordinated for rescue, relief and reconstruction.
The World Bank has indicated that up to NPR 25 billion could be mobilised from different sources as emergency assistance. World Bank Country Director for Nepal David Sislen communicated the potential support to Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle as the government began assessing immediate financial requirements. The exact financing mechanism—including whether the support would be grants, loans or another form—has not yet been confirmed.
India has asked Nepal to identify the relief materials most urgently required in flood-affected communities so that assistance can be provided according to immediate needs. Indian humanitarian and disaster-relief support is being coordinated with the Nepal government as emergency operations continue.
China has also offered immediate financial assistance. Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming has communicated with the government through the Finance Ministry regarding the process required to receive the support. The amount of China’s cash assistance has not yet been publicly specified in the reports reviewed.
Finance Minister Wagle is coordinating with government agencies and international partners to determine how the pledged assistance can be received and used effectively for immediate relief and subsequent recovery and reconstruction.
The international support comes after the government declared flood-affected local levels in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading as disaster crisis areas for three months, a move intended to make rescue, relief, rehabilitation and resource mobilisation more effective.
With search and rescue operations continuing and significant damage reported to settlements, roads, bridges and other infrastructure, the assistance from Nepal’s neighbours and development partners is expected to strengthen the country’s immediate disaster response and longer-term recovery efforts.
