UAE intensifies search and rescue operations as Nepal flood death toll reaches 1,400
More than 5,800 people remain unaccounted for across the affected border region
DUBAI – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has intensified search, rescue and humanitarian operations in Nepal as the death toll from devastating floods and mudslides along the Nepal-China border has reached 1,400.
UAE teams are working in coordination with Nepalese authorities to locate missing people, assess affected areas and deliver urgent relief.
The disaster, which struck late last month, has also left more than 5,800 people missing, according to official figures from Nepal and China.
Rescue mission
The UAE Search and Rescue Team is continuing field operations in Nepal’s Rasuwa District, deploying advanced search and surveying technologies to support efforts to locate people who remain unaccounted for.
Drones are being used for aerial imaging, surveys and three-dimensional mapping, allowing teams to assess difficult terrain and identify areas requiring further search and rescue activity. The technology is also helping teams gain access to affected locations amid challenging conditions.
A specialised search and rescue team from Dubai Police has also been deployed to Nepal. The team is equipped with advanced devices, equipment and technologies to assist Nepalese authorities in locating missing people and assessing sites affected by the floods and mudslides.
Relief supplies
The UAE has so far sent four relief aircraft to Nepal carrying a combined 186 tonnes of humanitarian assistance. The shipments include tents, food, shelter materials, essential supplies, power generators and logistical equipment.
The UAE has also procured essential supplies from the local Nepalese market to speed up the distribution of assistance to communities affected by the disaster.
According to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, 1,357 bodies have been recovered in flood-hit districts across Nepal. A total of 5,326 people remain missing in the country, including 587 foreigners.
More than 13,500 people have been rescued so far, with rescue operations continuing into last weekend.
On the Chinese side of the border, the death toll from massive mudslides in the southwestern Xizang Autonomous Region, also known as Tibet, stands at 43, while 519 people remain missing.
The combined figures from Nepal and China put the disaster’s death toll at 1,400, while 848 foreigners are among those reported missing across the affected areas.
China on Tuesday sent a fourth batch of emergency relief supplies to Nepal. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing would continue supporting Nepal as it responds to the disaster.