Nepal PM thanks India, China for flood aid amid minister's compensation push

Nepal's Prime Minister Balen Shah has publicly thanked India and China for their swift assistance in the aftermath of catastrophic flash floods that have killed over 1,000 people and left many missing. Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, Shah acknowledged the neighbours' role in ongoing rescue operations.

The expression of gratitude came just as Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal articulated a new diplomatic position on climate-related disasters. In an interview, Khanal argued that aid following such events should not be viewed as charity but as a "legal and moral liability" for major greenhouse gas emitters.

"Nepal's greenhouse gas emissions are virtually negligible," Khanal said, pointing to the rapid melting of glaciers and what he termed "mountain tsunamis" as direct consequences of global climate change. He identified China, the United States, and India as the top three emitters with a historical responsibility to compensate vulnerable nations.

Khanal stated that the government has dispatched a "formal climate compensation claim letter" to international partners and intends to raise the issue firmly at upcoming international forums. He framed the matter as one of "civilisational survival," warning that the disappearance of Himalayan glaciers would compromise water security for over two billion people dependent on rivers like the Ganges.

Meanwhile, India has continued its material support, dispatching a fifth tranche of relief on Tuesday. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar confirmed the aircraft carried an 11-member rescue team with specialised equipment and 5.5 tonnes of essential medicines. This follows earlier deliveries totalling 68.5 tonnes of relief material, along with medical and technical teams.

India's first dispatch came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Shah on August 26, when the floods struck, assuring him of New Delhi's assistance.