Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah thanked India and China for sending aids in a timely manner immediately after the deadly flash floods killed at least 1,127 people. However, the Himalayan nation also wants the two neighbours and the United States to pay compensation for the climate-induced disaster as the three nations are the biggest greenhouse-gas emitters in the world.
Reports suggest that Prime Minister Balen Shah might move the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to demand flood damages.
The flood-ravaged country has already reached out for immediate support from the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), a global climate finance mechanism under the UNFCCC to help vulnerable countries manage losses from extreme weather events.
Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal argued that Nepal should not be expected to shoulder the financial burden of disasters caused by a climate crisis, to which it has contributed comparatively little.
"We are shifting our diplomatic framework from 'aid' to 'justice and compensation'. This is not a matter of charity; it is a matter of legal and moral liability," the Kathmandu Post quoted Khanal as saying. "The major industrial emitters, such as China, which is the world’s top emitter, the United States at number two, and India at number three have a historical responsibility to compensate vulnerable nations like Nepal."
This comes amid PM Balen Shah's remarks about India and China sending timely support. "Our friendly nations, China and India, had sent technicians. From the very first day, they had conducted reconnaissance, including aerial reconnaissance, to assess the extent of the damage in the area and determine whether it was possible to reach the location," he said.
On Wednesday, India dispatched a fifth tranche of over five tonnes of essential medicines alongside an 11-member rescue team. "The fifth Indian aircraft has departed for Nepal. It is carrying an 11-member rescue team with specialised equipment, and 5.5 tonnes of essential medicines," External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar posted on X.
Since August 26, India has already delivered a total of 68.5 tonnes of relief materials, a team of doctors and paramedics, a technical contingent as well as equipment for search and rescue operations.
