The United Nations said that it is very, very, very difficult to reach the flood victims

The United Nations (UN) has said that there is a great challenge in reaching the survivors of the devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi area.

On Thursday, the UN said it was considering using cargo drones and porters to deliver vital aid as road networks were completely destroyed.

More than 1,200 people have lost their lives on both sides of the border area of ​​Nepal and China, and nearly 5,000 people are still missing after this catastrophe that broke out on August 10.

According to the statistics released by both countries on Thursday, about 600 foreign nationals from at least 34 countries are among those who disappeared.

Speaking to reporters in Kathmandu, UN Resident Coordinator Leela Peters Yahia said, "It is unimaginable, the size of the disaster and the level of destruction is very large."

Stating that it is very, very, very difficult to reach the affected areas, she informed that UN agencies have distributed water, sanitation materials, food and medicines. "Especially for the people in the epicenter of the disaster, these materials are the most essential," she said.

The search for the missing is still ongoing. Desperate families of missing foreign nationals in Kathmandu are scouring hospitals and mortuaries hoping for any information.

Sanjeev Rai, a 53-year-old American citizen who came to Nepal to search for his wife, is among the 75 missing American citizens, said, "I am feeling very sad, many days have passed."

Some settlements near the epicenter of the disaster are still cut off from communication and transport links. The United Nations is working with the government of Nepal to provide emergency relief to the devastated areas.

While briefing diplomats in Kathmandu on Thursday, Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal called this disaster a Himalayan tsunami. "From what I can tell from my direct observation, the reality on the ground is much worse than what is seen in the pictures and videos," Minister Khanal said, "This is not an ordinary flood."

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lok Bahadur Paudel Chhetri, told reporters on Thursday, "Nepal has mobilized all the resources it has, but looking at the size and complexity of this disaster, we need international solidarity and support."

He said that the size of the damage to houses, roads, bridges, hydropower projects and other important structures was huge.

Spokesperson Chhetri again called for specific international assistance, including body bags and DNA testing kits, heavy-duty drones and temporary bridges to identify the dead. He said that Nepal also needs a broadband seismometer and a mobile air traffic control system to measure ground vibrations.

More than 21 thousand Nepali security personnel are deployed in search, rescue and relief operations. With the help of experts from India, China and South Korea, Nepali rescuers are constantly searching for those trapped inside the tunnels of the hydroelectric project.

However, the team faced repeated setbacks. However, it has not been confirmed that anyone is still alive inside the tunnel. The floods have washed away roads, bridges and hydroelectric dams in the Himalayan districts.

"We are discussing with the government how helicopters and cargo drones can be used to deliver relief," said UN Resident Coordinator Yahia.

In addition, the UN will be able to take the help of Nepali porters who are used to carrying heavy loads in the world's most difficult mountainous terrain. "The beauty of your country is that you have porters," she added.

Yahia warned that given the enormity of the disaster, it was natural that there would be some shortfall in aid. "The scale of the disaster is so great that there will always be shortages," she said.

According to the information provided by the Disaster Management Authority of Nepal on Thursday, 1,252 dead bodies have been recovered from Nepal and 4,216 people are missing.

On the other hand, according to the Chinese state media, 21 people have died and 541 people are missing on the Chinese side. With this, the total number of deaths on both sides has reached 1,273, while at least 4,757 people are still missing.

Published: 18 Bhadra 2083 16:58 Thursday