Following the fatal flash flood in the border region between Nepal and China, the German government is currently reviewing how it can provide assistance to the affected areas. A spokesman for the Foreign Office informed the dts Nachrichtenagentur on Monday that Nepal had requested specialized support on Saturday. A critical need noted is for equipment to identify and preserve the remains of those who could not be rescued from the mudslides, specifically mentioning DNA test kits and cold storage facilities. The spokesman confirmed that the German government and various federal states are assessing the scope of possible support Germany can offer.
In addition to humanitarian aid, the Nepalese Ministry of Finance has appealed to the international community for assistance with reconstruction efforts. The spokesman added that this wider request is being examined internally within the German government, particularly in collaboration with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and the German embassy in Kathmandu.
Regarding the missing and deceased, the figures remain unclear. The spokesman stated that the German government is aware of several missing German citizens, but could not provide specific details. This ambiguity is attributed to the ongoing difficulties in assessing the full extent of the devastation across a vast area affected by the floods. He urged the public to be patient while officials try to establish a concrete picture of the situation.
Recent casualty figures show an increase in the crisis. The number of confirmed deaths in Nepal has risen to 903, while China reported 16 fatalities as of Sunday. In Nepal, the number of missing persons has jumped to 4,247, including 592 foreign nationals-a substantial increase from just over 2,500 reported missing on Sunday. On the Chinese side, 546 people were reported missing on Sunday.
Collectively, 919 people have died on both sides of the border, and 4,793 individuals are currently missing. Relief teams in Nepal have successfully evacuated over 10,000 people to safety so far.
