Malaysia Ready to Send DNA Experts to Nepal
SEREMBAN: Malaysia is ready to send DNA experts from the Chemistry Department to Nepal to assist in the identification process of flood disaster victims.
Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, said the deployment of these experts would be carried out if needed to help Nepalese authorities speed up the victim identification process.
He said DNA samples from the next-of-kin of the 55 victims who are still unaccounted for have been completed and will be sent to Nepal for the matching process.
“If necessary, we will send experts from the Chemistry Department to assist the Nepalese authorities in identifying and matching the DNA.
“There are many victims involved, and it requires a long time to make the matches,” he said when met after officiating the Pinggiran Senawang Independence Carnival organised by UMNO and the KRT Pinggiran Senawang at Taman Pinggiran Senawang here today.
Mohamad said several other countries will also send DNA experts to Nepal to help the authorities there speed up the victim identification process.
Meanwhile, he said Nepal has only allowed Malaysia to send 10 members of the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) to assist in search and rescue (SAR) operations.
“Based on the experience during the previous earthquake in Kathmandu, too many SAR teams from other countries came, which ultimately made it difficult for local authorities to coordinate and manage operations.
“They do not want that to happen again, which is why the Nepalese government has limited the deployment of SAR teams from abroad,” he said.
Mohamad said the SMART team has also been equipped with five high-capacity drones donated by several local companies, including Proton and Petronas, to assist in search and rescue operations in slope and ravine areas that are difficult to access.
“The area is long and vast, stretching across Tibet, Nepal and all the way to India. So, the area is extremely long, besides having dangerous slopes and ravines,” he said.
Utusan Malaysia