'We stand together': Nepal residents in UAE pray for flood victims

The Nepali community in the UAE came together on Friday to offer prayers for the thousands impacted by catastrophic floods that devastated Nepal. At a special function at the Nepal Consulate in Dubai, people bowed their heads in prayer as lamps and candles were lit to remember those who had died and pray for the injured and the thousands still missing.

Nepal's consul general, Hari Prasad Odari, described the floods as a Himalayan tsunami from which the country needed sustained support. He emphasized that this was not an ordinary flood, given its scale and speed, and expressed deep sympathy for the families who lost their loved ones.

Odari thanked the UAE for its swift support after the devastation struck Nepal. He noted that the UAE became Nepal's second home to hundreds of thousands of Nepalis, and this act of generosity meant a great deal to Nepal and Nepali people. A team of Emirati search and rescue personnel arrived in Nepal on Friday to assist in the humanitarian response to the floods, which have claimed over 1,200 lives.

The UAE relief plane carried 20 tonnes of additional aid, and a second aircraft delivered 45 tonnes of relief supplies, including food, essential goods, and power generators.

Nepali residents said the candlelight vigil served as a meaningful opportunity to gather, pay respect, and pray for the victims. Manoj Marahatta, a Nepali businessman and Dubai resident, highlighted that the vigil brought together entrepreneurs, professionals, and families who had come together at the consulate. He expressed solidarity with Nepal, stating that regardless of their location, their heart, mind, and soul remained devoted to their motherland.