Britain deploys crisis specialists to support stranded nationals and families as Kathmandu steps up response to deadly border-region floods…….
The United Kingdom has deployed a specially trained Rapid Deployment Team to Nepal as it steps up efforts to assist British nationals and their families caught up in the devastating floods that have swept parts of the country.
The crisis response team is expected to arrive in Kathmandu on Saturday and will work alongside officials at the British Embassy and Nepalese authorities to strengthen consular support and coordinate assistance for those affected.
Nepal was hit by severe flash floods on August 26 after a sudden surge of water entered the Bhote Koshi River in the mountainous Rasuwa district, close to the border with China.
The flooding caused widespread damage, with homes, roads, bridges, hydropower installations and other critical infrastructure affected across the region.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office announced the deployment on Friday, saying the additional personnel were being sent because of the scale and complexity of the emergency.
“The team will arrive in Kathmandu tomorrow and will work alongside British Embassy staff and local authorities to provide additional consular support as part of response efforts,” the FCDO said.
The department said its officials were working continuously to assist British nationals and their relatives affected by the disaster.
The Rapid Deployment Team will help coordinate support for British citizens arriving in or leaving Nepal through the airport, assist people seeking information about relatives whose whereabouts are unknown and maintain contact with Nepalese authorities and emergency services.
The team will also bolster the consular operation already working on the ground and provide assistance to families in the UK who are anxious about relatives caught up in the disaster.
“The team will also work closely with families in the UK who are concerned about loved ones in affected areas,” the FCDO said.
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the scale of the disaster had prompted the government to send additional personnel to Nepal.
“The scenes from Nepal are devastating, and our thoughts remain with everyone affected,” Miliband said.
He said protecting British nationals remained the government’s immediate concern.
“The safety and welfare of British nationals is our top priority. That is why we are deploying a Rapid Deployment Team to Nepal to provide additional support on the ground for British nationals and their families at what is an incredibly difficult time,” he added.
Miliband said British officials were coordinating with Nepalese authorities, emergency responders and the UK diplomatic mission in Kathmandu to ensure those affected could obtain assistance and reliable information.
“We will continue to do everything we can to support British nationals impacted by this tragedy,” he said.
Beyond consular assistance, Britain has announced a £5 million humanitarian package to support Nepal’s wider flood response.
The FCDO said the funding would assist the Nepalese government’s relief efforts through a combination of interventions involving the United Nations, the Red Cross and non-governmental organisations.
The new support builds on Britain’s longer-term efforts to help Nepal prepare for climate-related disasters, with the UK saying it has supported resilience programmes in the country for the past 15 years.
The FCDO said it had also brought in additional humanitarian specialists to help deal with the rapidly developing crisis.
“Given the scale and complexity of the situation, the UK has also brought in additional humanitarian expertise,” the department said.
It added that deploying specialist personnel early in an emergency could improve preparedness, coordination and decision-making as conditions change.
The British government has urged nationals in Nepal who need consular assistance to contact the British Embassy in Kathmandu or the FCDO.
It also encouraged people in the UK who are worried about family members or friends in areas affected by the flooding to contact the department for assistance and information.
The latest deployment comes as Nepal continues to deal with the extensive damage caused by the floods, with rescue and emergency response efforts ongoing in affected communities.
