Sep 01, Kathmandu - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that Nepal is receiving international technical assistance from friendly countries for post-disaster search, tunnel rescue and body identification.

According to the Ministry's spokesperson Lok Bahadur Poudel Chhetri, a 24-member tunnel rescue team from India is deployed in the Chilime and Langtang Hydropower Project areas in coordination with the Nepali Army. A 9-member team from China is deployed for rescue work at the Upper Trishuli-3 'A' project, while a rescue team has also arrived in Nepal from South Korea. The Ministry has stated that a 19-member DNA expert team from India has been working in the area since August 29 to identify the bodies. A 4-member forensic team has been mobilized from China, while coordination is being made to bring a disaster victim identification team from Singapore.

The Ministry has stated that the DNA samples of the bodies that could not be immediately identified have been preserved and temporarily managed in accordance with international standards. According to the Ministry, a 'post-disaster needs assessment' will be prepared after a detailed assessment of the damage caused by the disaster. On that basis, a call for long-term international assistance will be made, Spokesperson Poudel said.