Nepal has always been in a zone of climate vulnerability, but that vulnerability was once again exposed on Aug 26. This was probably one of the most dangerous forms of nature’s fury.

The world knows that climate change is not a fake issue, as US President Donald Trump has claimed. It has always been a real and serious issue, and Nepal has been the latest, and probably one of the biggest, victims of its consequences. In just seven minutes, a flood of mud, rocks and debris swept through 21 kilometres of the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli River corridor, destroying almost all the houses along the way and causing a huge loss of human lives.

Immediately after the devastating flood, the Government of Nepal, along with all political parties, unanimously focused on rescue and relief efforts, although the frontline forces were the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police. The loss of human life should never be politicized, and none of the parties has done so.

Without a second thought, people from all sections of society joined the rescue mission. One thing should be said, however: if the government had decided to seek rescue assistance from India and China in time, many more lives of people trapped in hydropower tunnels could perhaps have been saved.

But this article does not reflect the overall post-disaster efforts of the Nepal Government and the international community. Rather, it unfolds the story of neighborhood support, which tells us that a friend indeed is a friend in need.

India’s response

India responded to Nepal’s devastating floods on the same day, becoming the first country to extend immediate humanitarian assistance. Within hours, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Prime Minister Balendra Shah and assured India’s full support. The same day, an Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft delivered the first 10 tonnes of humanitarian assistance and essential medicines.

Additional consignments followed: 37.5 tonnes on Aug 27, including relief materials, medicines and food packets; portable generators, dignity kits, food packets and water-purification tablets on Aug 28; and another 11 tonnes on Aug 29. India subsequently expanded its support to specialized search, rescue, medical and forensic operations, including tunnel-rescue expertise and assistance in locating missing persons and identifying victims. Two further aircraft delivered 21.5 tonnes of relief materials, including forensic kits and medical supplies.

By Sept 4, India had delivered approximately 95 tonnes of relief materials through seven aircraft and deployed 54 specialised personnel, including tunnel-rescue experts, forensic specialists and medical teams. India also offered further assistance, including forensic kits and Bailey bridges, based on Nepal’s requirements.

India’s response thus evolved from immediate humanitarian relief to specialized search-and-rescue and recovery assistance, highlighting the practical dimension of Nepal-India neighborhood cooperation during a major humanitarian crisis.

Back in 2015, when Nepal was devastated by the earthquake, India was also the first country to provide support to the Government of Nepal.

China’s response 

China also responded swiftly to Nepal’s flood. President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang instructed relevant authorities to intensify rescue and relief efforts and expressed readiness to provide emergency assistance according to Nepal’s needs. On the third day, Aug 29, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke by phone with Nepal’s Foreign Affairs Minister Shishir Khanal and assured China’s support. China also deployed two tunnel-rescue teams and shared satellite imagery, hydrological data, disaster-area information and early-warning information, including details of an upstream barrier lake.

On Aug 30, two Chinese PLA Air Force Y-20 aircraft delivered 50 tonnes of emergency relief supplies, comprising 13,200 items such as tents, blankets, sleeping bags, food and first-aid kits, along with four tunnel-rescue experts and equipment. China also provided $2m in emergency flood-relief assistance, while the Red Cross Society of China contributed $200,000 to Nepal’s Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund.

China continued its support with additional relief materials, specialised rescue assistance and Bailey bridges. On Sept 4, the Chinese Embassy forwarded another $200,000 in emergency cash assistance from the International Department of the CPC Central Committee. This was the first party-to-party support, provided by the IDCPC.

In a nutshell, China’s response combined financial aid, 50 tonnes of relief supplies, two Y-20 aircraft, specialised rescue teams and equipment, satellite and hydrological information, Bailey bridges and continuing logistical support, demonstrating a broad-based disaster-response partnership.

This abbreviated account of neighborhood support does not undermine the support extended by other countries, including SAARC members, the United States, Japan, South Korea and many others. The world has stood with us and is praying for Nepal to overcome this tragedy. But the impact of such a tragic situation across the border might shake the neighbours first.

This is not only the story of this flood. It was also the story of the earthquake in 2015, when the first respondents or supporters were India and China. Nepal has always been supported by India and China at critical junctures, whether caused by natural calamities or historic developments in Nepal’s domestic affairs.

Trilateral mechanism 

When one neighbor falls victim to such a disaster, another neighbor might feel its pain, and that pain gets translated into support. None can come faster than neighbors. Therefore, Nepal should always prioritise India and China. Nepal’s foreign relations start with its neighborhood. This is not an emotional issue; it is a reality. India and China have much of what Nepal is looking for.

After this climate disaster, one issue has naturally come to the surface: the demand for climate justice from countries that are the biggest carbon emitters. This is a genuine issue, and Nepal should lobby for it. The UN General Assembly would be the best global forum to raise this voice before world leaders. Hopefully, Prime Minister Balendra Shah would raise this issue in UNGA. But this alone cannot be effective. Nepal should examine all relevant global forums and appoint climate advocates to pursue this cause.

Coming back to the role of neighbors, it might take months, and probably years, to receive compensation from the major global emitters. Nepal should therefore formally and benevolently request both neighbours, India and China, to form a trilateral mechanism for cooperation in both pre-disaster preparedness and post-disaster response.

The Hindu Kush Himalaya region has been witnessing such disasters almost every year. If Nepal initiates a formal meeting with China and India on this issue, it could gradually take shape as a trilateral mechanism. Such a mechanism could cover early-warning systems, information exchange on the impacts of climate change, ways to build resilient infrastructure, and many other areas of pre-disaster preparedness and post-disaster response.