Nepal has sought climate compensation from India, China and the United States after devastating floods killed more than 1,130 people. Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal made the appeal, describing assistance not as charity but as a moral obligation. Times Now confirmed the development on Wednesday, September 2, citing The Kathmandu Post.

Khanal said countries with the largest carbon dioxide emissions have a historic responsibility to compensate vulnerable states such as Nepal. In an interview with Kantipur TV, he compared the disaster to a “mountain tsunami” and said Nepal was paying an extreme price for a crisis created by others.

Nepal’s contribution to global emissions is only 0.04 percent, according to Khanal. He said the country is changing its climate diplomacy by moving away from seeking donations and toward demanding justice and compensation. Nepal has already sent compensation requests to its international partners and plans to take a firm position on the issue in international forums.