Prime Minister Balendra Shah and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon held a telephone conversation on Friday.

During the call, Shah said search and rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts had been stepped up following the floods in the Bhotekoshi river. He said the search for people still missing was also being given priority.

Shah expressed gratitude for the humanitarian assistance worth NZ$2 million provided by New Zealand.

He said Nepal is highly vulnerable to climate-induced disasters and sought New Zealand’s constructive support in international forums for financial assistance for loss and damage caused by climate-related disasters.

Luxon expressed condolences and solidarity, on behalf of the New Zealand government and people, over the devastating floods in Nepal.