Nepal Floods: Malaysia Channels US$1 Million, Deploys SMART Team

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will channel a contribution of US$1 million to Nepal to assist flood victims as well as support post-disaster recovery efforts in the country.

Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said, Malaysia at the same time will deploy the Malaysian Special Search and Rescue Team (SMART) to assist in search and rescue (SAR) operations following the disaster.

“The SMART team is also tasked with locating and bringing back affected Malaysians, besides assisting the Malaysian Embassy in Nepal in coordinating aid and ensuring their safety and welfare,” he said in a statement today.

Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, added that the National Security Council (MKN) and the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (KLN), are responsible for coordinating with the Nepalese government to enable the team to be deployed as soon as possible.

He said the deployment of SMART also reflects Malaysia’s commitment to assisting disaster-stricken countries, besides prioritising the safety and welfare of affected Malaysians.

Nepal’s disaster authorities listed 933 hydroelectric sector workers among those still missing in the area, in addition to 517 foreigners including travellers and Hindus making pilgrimages to Mount Kailash, which is considered sacred in Tibet.

Yesterday, KLN in a statement informed that there were no Malaysians on the list of 771 people who had been rescued in SAR operations in Rasuwa, Nepal.

According to the statement, 55 Malaysians in Nepal are still uncontactable, while two others have been successfully contacted.

Astro Awani