After deadly flash floods killed 460 people in Nepal and Tibet this week, with thousands more missing, a strong anti-Chinese sentiment is beginning to grow and blame is flying from every direction.
A group of Nepali journalists using the name Nepal Correspondence are claiming the deadly floods that have ravaged Nepal were caused by an avalanche brought on by Chinese construction activity in the Himalayas. The reports believe that construction in glacial areas along the China-Nepal border had damaged the sensitive ecosystem and contributed to recurring avalanches, which in turn triggered deadly flash floods.
Nepali journalist Parshuram Kaphle also blamed China for knowing about the disaster ahead of time and failing to warn Nepalese authorities in Kathmandu. Kaphle, a Foreign and Strategic Affairs journalist, said in a post on X, China had failed “to provide early warning of such a massive disaster, we suffered immense loss of human life.”
Dr Govind Raj Pokharel, who led Nepal’s reconstruction effort after the Nepal earthquake of 2015 told NDTV, he blames China’s lack of advanced warning system saying, “I was expecting that because of the advanced satellite systems and technology, they could have at least noticed an image or something like that. And they could have relayed the information to the Nepali side.”
So far, no official study has proven that any of the accusations against China are true, but what is clear is the anti-Chinese sentiment is growing.
While governments and journalists are playing the blame game urgent help is needed now. BTJ missionaries are on the ground providing immediate aid to the people.
This week, BTJ is sending support to missionaries on the ground. BTJ missionaries serving in Nepal are already on the scene and risking their lives to provide aid to those who have been hit the hardest. “Our team is already on the ground,” said one message from a BTJ missionary today who has been living in Nepal for more than ten years, “but we have been given alerts of deadly landslides in our area and forced to evacuate.”
To donate to this effort, please click on the link below.
