UAE rescue team deploys in Nepal as flood death toll nears 1,400
More than 5,000 people remain missing across disaster-hit areas
KATHMANDU – The UAE Search and Rescue Team has begun field operations in Nepal’s Rasuwa area following devastating floods and landslides that have caused widespread destruction.
The deployment forms part of the UAE’s humanitarian response to support Nepalese authorities with search and rescue operations.
The team is working directly with local authorities to reach affected locations and assist efforts to locate missing people.
Advanced operations
The UAE team is conducting search and field-survey missions across affected sites using specialised equipment and advanced technologies. Drones are being deployed for aerial photography and surveying, while the team is also producing three-dimensional maps to help identify search locations and improve access to difficult areas.
Hamoud Al Afari, Director of UAE Relief Operations, said the start of field operations reflects the UAE’s efforts to use its capabilities and expertise to support people affected by the disaster.
The team is coordinating with Nepalese authorities to direct search and rescue resources towards areas considered most in need. Its technological capabilities are being used to support and accelerate searches, particularly in locations where conventional access has been hindered by flood damage and landslides.
Difficult terrain
Rescue and relief operations are continuing despite significant challenges in reaching villages and other affected communities. Flooding and landslides have damaged essential infrastructure and disrupted access to basic necessities, complicating efforts to reach disaster-hit areas.
The UAE Search and Rescue Team has also been providing continuous relief support across affected locations since beginning its ground operations. Its work forms part of a wider UAE humanitarian response that includes the continued delivery of relief assistance to communities impacted by the disaster.
Nepal floods
The scale of the disaster has remained severe, with the confirmed death toll from catastrophic flash floods across Nepal and neighbouring Tibet approaching 1,400.
Official reports put Nepal’s fatalities at 1,341, while the death toll in Tibet has risen to 43 from 31. More than 5,000 people remain missing as search and rescue operations continue across affected areas.