Outcome of ROK–Nepal Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Conversation (August 27) – ROK Decides to Provide Humanitarian Assistance in the Amount of USD One Million

Countries: Nepal, Republic of Korea Source: Government of the Republic of Korea Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun held a telephone conversation with Shisir Khanal, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal, on the afternoon of Thursday, August 27. The two Ministers discussed the damage caused by the floods that struck Nepal on Wednesday, August 26, and Minister Cho requested the Nepalese government’s keen attention to and support for the search and rescue of Korean nationals. Minister Cho was briefed by Minister Khanal on the scale of the damage caused by the floods in the Rasuwa region and on the ongoing response efforts. Minister Cho extended his deepest condolences to the people of Nepal affected by the floods and to the bereaved families of the victims. He went on to state that, in order to support the Nepalese government’s rapid response and swift recovery efforts, the Republic of Korea will provide humanitarian assistance amounting to USD1 million through international organizations operating on the ground. Minister Cho underscored that the Korean government is gravely concerned over the situation, with nine Korean nationals out of contact and another ten having evacuated and now awaiting rescue. On that note, he requested the Nepalese government’s special attention to and support for a swift and safe search and rescue operation for those Koreans. In particular, Minister Cho noted that, at the emergency meeting convened and presided over by the President of the Republic of Korea earlier in the afternoon, it had been decided that all available means will be mobilized to search for and rescue those missing, adding that the Korean government will also consider and arrange the prompt dispatch of a Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT). With regard to Korea’s interagency rapid response team dispatched to Nepal earlier in the day, he asked for the active cooperation of the Nepalese government so that the team can seamlessly conduct search and rescue operations for Korean nationals in close coordination with the local authorities. The two Ministers agreed to maintain close communication and cooperation between the two governments in responding to the damage caused by the floods in Nepal and in searching for and rescuing Korean nationals.

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