First United Sikhs Malaysia team arrives in Nepal to aid flood victims

On August 26, the Nepal floods struck the Trishuli Valley, near the Chinese border, resulting in over 1,200 fatalities and destruction of more than 2,500 buildings. Additionally, more than 4,750 people are still missing, with 77 Malaysians among them. The United Sikhs Malaysia (USM) has arrived in Kathmandu to aid the victims and assist in locating the missing individuals.

Led by Mandeep Singh and Pravin Nagapan, Team A of five members will spend two weeks on the ground, coordinating with local authorities and responders to provide immediate humanitarian assistance. The team's primary focus is to reach vulnerable families in underserved and difficult-to-access areas while distributing essential supplies and temporary shelter materials.

Mosquito nets and tarpaulins worth approximately RM28,000 have already been transported to a gurdwara in Kathmandu, while volunteers will gather ropes and other crucial items before heading to the affected regions. Team A will evaluate access routes and ground conditions before entering the disaster-stricken areas, with Teams B and C remaining on standby, contingent on the evolving needs on the ground.

Kaur highlighted that during this initial deployment, Team A will identify urgent unmet needs and determine whether a larger or longer-term humanitarian response is necessary.