New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah held a telephone conversation on Friday, discussing the devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi area of Rasuwa and the ongoing search, rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.
According to Prime Minister Shah’s Secretariat, Shah briefed Luxon on the rescue and relief operations underway following the floods, as well as efforts to locate foreign nationals who remain missing.
Shah said the Nepal government has given high priority to the search for missing foreign nationals, including five New Zealand citizens. He expressed hope that they would be found safely and said authorities were working to make search and rescue operations more effective.
During the conversation, Shah expressed his sincere gratitude to the New Zealand Government for providing NZ$2 million in humanitarian assistance following the disaster. He also praised New Zealand for its support and solidarity with Nepal during the crisis.
Shah highlighted Nepal’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters and stressed the need for greater international support to reduce the loss and damage Nepal is experiencing as a result of climate change.
He also called for constructive and continued support from the New Zealand Government at international forums to help mobilise financial resources for Loss and Damage associated with climate change.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, meanwhile, expressed his deep condolences on behalf of the New Zealand Government and people over the devastating floods in Nepal. He reaffirmed New Zealand’s solidarity with Nepal during the difficult period following the disaster.
The telephone conversation is being viewed as an important dialogue aimed at further strengthening Nepal–New Zealand relations, particularly cooperation in disaster management, humanitarian assistance and climate change.
