‘Justice, not aid; India, China, US have responsibility’: Nepal minister on floods - The Indian Express

**Kathmandu, Nepal –** A devastating monsoon surge that began on 23 May has claimed the lives of **1,252 people**, displaced tens of thousands and submerged vast swathes of the country’s low‑lying districts. In a press briefing on Sunday, Nepal’s Minister of Federal Affairs and General Administration, **Mohan Bahadur Basnet**, warned that “justice, not aid, should be the priority” and called on **India, China and the United States** to shoulder responsibility for the disaster’s underlying drivers. The minister cited unchecked river‑bank erosion, inadequate cross‑border watershed management, and delayed climate‑finance commitments as factors that have intensified the flood’s impact, urging the three neighboring powers to move beyond short‑term relief and support long‑term mitigation and compensation mechanisms.

The humanitarian picture on the ground remains grim. **Families in the Terai region have staged mock funerals**, a stark cultural ritual meant to honor those still missing while urging authorities to expedite rescue efforts. **Aid operations have been repeatedly stalled** by collapsed roads, power outages, and continued after‑effects of the deluge, as reported by *The Guardian*. Amid the chaos, stories of survival have emerged: a **97‑year‑old farmer survived more than eight hours trapped under debris**, and a **hydropower‑project worker escaped a flooded tunnel after weeks of construction halted by the waters**, underscoring both the resilience of Nepalese citizens and the dangerous conditions faced by frontline responders.

International actors have begun to respond, but the minister’s demand for “justice” signals a shift from ad‑hoc assistance to accountability. Diplomatic channels are reportedly active, with **India pledging additional flood‑relief supplies**, **China offering technical expertise on river‑management**, and the **U.S. announcing a new climate‑adaptation grant** for Nepal’s vulnerable districts. Observers note that these pledges, while welcomed, must be tied to transparent mechanisms that address upstream water‑flow regulation, infrastructure investment and compensation for lost lives and property. As Nepal rebuilds, the call for a coordinated, justice‑oriented approach may redefine regional cooperation on climate‑induced disasters.