Malaysia to send SMART team to Nepal

Malaysia is set to dispatch its Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) to Nepal to aid in the search and rescue efforts following the devastating flash floods that have claimed 734 lives and left 2,498 people missing, according to the latest figures recorded today at 9am local time.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the SMART team will not only locate and repatriate Malaysians affected by the disaster but also support the Malaysian embassy in Kathmandu with aid coordination. This decision was reached in collaboration with the National Security Council and the national disaster management agency, with the foreign ministry playing a key role in liaising with the Nepali government to deploy the team swiftly.

In addition to humanitarian assistance, Malaysia will contribute US$1 million to Nepal to aid flood victims and facilitate post-disaster recovery efforts, according to a statement released today.

The situation in Nepal took a shift yesterday when it initially refused foreign search-and-rescue teams due to the belief that its own rescuers could handle the operation. However, diplomatic pressure from countries whose nationals are still missing prompted Nepal to reconsider and seek limited international assistance, particularly for tunnel rescues, DNA testing, and forensic examinations.

Currently, 55 Malaysians remain uncontactable in Nepal following the floods that struck on August 26, as of 8pm yesterday. Meanwhile, the Nepal Tourism Board reported that 261 foreign tourists had been rescued by 6pm yesterday, with another 320 still unaccounted for.