Rich nations should foot climate bill, says Nepal minister

NEW YORK - Wealthy nations must do their fair share to help countries that are least responsible for the climate crisis, yet bear its brunt, Nepal's foreign minister told AFP on Thursday.

The Himalayan nation suffered one of the worst catastrophes in its history late last month when a tsunami-like flood, triggered by a high-altitude glacial mountain collapse along the Nepal-China border, cut a swathe of destruction.

More than 1,400 people died, 6,000 are still missing, and the economic devastation runs in the billions of dollars.

"What we're trying to convey to the world is this: these issues of climate change are not theoretical anymore," Minister of Foreign Affairs Shisir Khanal said in an interview at Nepal's permanent mission, during the United Nation's high-level week.