disasterSaturday, August 29, 20267 sources

Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal Requests Technical Assistance, Rejects Foreign Search and Rescue Teams

Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal announced the country requires technical aid in areas like DNA testing and body identification, while rejecting foreign search and rescue teams. The government confirmed internal management of rescue efforts, though specialized missions may involve foreign experts. The stance aligns with previous statements from the Foreign Ministry.

On August 29, 2026, Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal stated that the country needs assistance in technical areas such as identification of dead bodies and DNA testing. Multiple outlets, including Reuters, Nikkei Asia, and The Hindu, reported this as the central message of the announcement. The Foreign Ministry had previously indicated that Kathmandu could manage rescue efforts internally and declined foreign involvement, as noted by The Hindu.

Timelines

Sources

IndependentNikkei AsiaAug 29, 08:26 AM
Nepal needs technical help, not rescue after flood, says foreign minister - Nikkei Asia

Nepal needs technical help, not rescue after flood, says foreign minister  Nikkei Asia

IndependentThe NationAug 29, 08:22 AM
Nepal seeks technical aid but says foreign rescue teams not needed - Nation Thailand

Nepal seeks technical aid but says foreign rescue teams not needed  Nation Thailand

IndependentDaily NewsAug 29, 07:21 AM
Nepal Opens to Foreign Specialized Assistance, Reiterates No Foreign Teams Involved in Search and Rescue

A senior government official stated that they need foreign assistance for specialized missions, but confirmed that the search and rescue operations are still being handled internally.

PublicChannel News AsiaAug 29, 06:42 AM
Nepal needs help in technical areas, not search and rescue, foreign minister says

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said the country needs foreign help in areas including identification of dead bodies and DNA testing.

IndependentStraits TimesAug 29, 06:39 AM
Nepal needs help in technical areas, not search and rescue, foreign minister says - The Straits Times

Nepal needs help in technical areas, not search and rescue, foreign minister says  The Straits Times

IndependentThe HinduAug 29, 06:38 AM
Nepal needs help in technical areas, not search and rescue, Foreign Minister says

Earlier on Friday (August 28, 2026), Nepal’s ‌Foreign Ministry had said that Kathmandu could manage the ​rescue efforts on its own for now and declined foreign involvement

WireReutersAug 29, 06:22 AM
Nepal needs help in technical areas, not search and rescue, foreign minister says - Reuters

Nepal needs help in technical areas, not search and rescue, foreign minister says  Reuters