Nepal's Flood Crisis Exposes Limits of National Sovereignty The recent reversal by the Nepalese government on seeking international aid for flood rescue operations has sparked a much needed debate about the limits of national sovereignty in times of crisis.
The decision to allow foreign expertise in tunnel rescues, DNA testing, and forensic examinations acknowledges that even the most proud and self reliant nations require external assistance when faced with catastrophic events.
The Nepalese government's initial reluctance to accept help from international search and rescue teams was understandable, given its history of asserting national sovereignty.