By Shannon Tiezzi
China is sending hundred of rescue workers and billions of dollars worth of supplies to Nepal.
Saturday’s earthquake in Nepal, registered at magnitude 7.8 by the U.S. Geological Survey, has devastated the country, leaving at least 3,617 dead. The death toll is expected to continue to rise as rescue teams make their way to remote villages where damage is feared to be extensive. Survivors, meanwhile, must cope with shortages of basic necessities — food, water, shelter, and medical supplies.
Amidst the devastation, Nepal’s government is looking to the international community to provide desperately needed aid. In particular, Kathmandu will need help from its two powerful neighbors, India and China. China in particular, which is trying to bolster its presence in South Asia through the “One Belt, One Road” initiative, will find its actions heavily scrutinized by people wondering if China is really ready to play the role of a great power.
China, well-versed in earthquake rescue and relief efforts from its own tragic experiences, moved quickly to respond. China’s first rescue team, consisting of 62 people (“40 rescuers, 10 medical workers, and 12 seismic experts,” according to Xinhua) and six sniffer dogs, arrived in Nepal on Sunday. A separate 58-member medical team followed on Monday, bringing with them 13 tons of medical aid.
The PLA has also dispatched 55 soldiers (plus four rescue dogs, recovery vehicles, and rescue equipment) to Nepal on board a IL-76 transport plane. Another 45 soldiers are expected to head to Nepal on Tuesday. In all, a total of 170 PLA soldiers will be sent to Nepal as rescue and medical teams, China’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday. That makes this already one of China’s largest disaster relief operations conducted on foreign soil.
Read the full story at The Diplomat