UAE sends food and power generators to Nepal to boost response to deadly floods

The United Arab Emirates has dispatched an additional 45 tonnes of crucial aid, totaling $10 million, to Nepal in a bid to alleviate the aftermath of catastrophic floods. The supplies, including food, relief materials, and power generators, were transported by an Emirati plane and arrived in the Himalayan nation to augment the urgent response to the deadly natural disaster.

The floods were triggered by a glacier collapse and landslide on Wednesday, resulting in widespread destruction along the border between Nepal and the Chinese region of Tibet. This latest aid effort aims to bolster support for the communities most severely impacted by the floods and landslides, which have prompted a massive search-and-rescue operation.

This is the second aid flight organized by the Emirates, following a previous shipment of 85 tonnes of food and shelter supplies to Nepal on Sunday. The death toll across Nepal and Tibet has now surpassed 1,000, with 987 lives lost in Nepal and more recorded in Tibet. Over 4,000 people remain missing in the two countries. Nepalese authorities report that 11,814 people have been rescued, primarily using helicopters to reach those stranded in areas devastated by destroyed roads and bridges.

Rescue teams are intensifying efforts to reach over 600 workers believed to be trapped inside blocked hydropower tunnels, focusing on 11 hydropower projects, including those in the heavily affected districts of Rasuwa and Nuwakot. Pictures and videos shared by rescue teams show heavy machinery being employed to excavate through mud and rock in the darkness to locate the trapped individuals.

Nepali Prime Minister Balendra Shah described the flood as an "unprecedented and devastating natural disaster," highlighting the challenges authorities face in compiling a complete assessment of the damage. The UAE's $10 million relief effort is being facilitated through the UAE Aid Agency, as directed by President Sheikh Mohamed.

Dr Tareq Al Amiri, chairman of the UAE Aid Agency, stressed that the Emirates will continue to play a leading role in supporting disaster and crisis responses worldwide. Dr Al Amiri stated that a team from the agency is collaborating with local authorities and international organizations to ensure that aid reaches affected groups effectively.