Mission done, but not over: Smart team on way home as Nepal search continues

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 — Following the completion of the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief mission in Nepal, the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (Smart) is anticipated to depart for home today or tomorrow, disclosed Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. He clarified that all team equipment, including drones, has been transferred to Nepalese rescue teams for ongoing flood victim searches.

Nepal authorities have not yet declared an end to SAR operations, with 5,000 individuals still unaccounted for. Smart's team leader will evaluate and report the subsequent course of action. If Nepal requires Malaysia's assistance, such as in search or rescue efforts, the team may be willing to contribute. The 11-strong Smart MAS01 team, comprising officers and personnel, arrived in Kathmandu via Tribhuvan International Airport on September 5, having taken off from the RMAF Subang Air Base with 12.4 tonnes of SAR equipment.

The Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu maintains ongoing communication with the Nepalese government to gather the most recent information on the status of Malaysians missing in the disaster. This enables next-of-kin to manage matters like insurance claims and other relevant issues, as death certificates can be issued in Nepal after three years, while it takes seven years in Malaysia.

The embassy's role is to liaise with the Nepalese ministry to determine how next-of-kin can acquire documents confirming the status of the remaining missing Malaysians.