The UK is strengthening its support for British nationals caught up in severe flooding in Nepal, sending a specialist emergency response team to Kathmandu as authorities continue to deal
with the aftermath of widespread devastation.
A Rapid Deployment Team (RDT), made up of specially trained Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) crisis-response personnel, is due to arrive in the Nepalese capital on 29 August. The specialists will reinforce the work already being carried out by staff at the British Embassy and coordinate closely with Nepalese authorities and emergency services.
The deployment is designed to provide practical help to British citizens and their families at a time of heightened uncertainty, including assistance for people travelling through Kathmandu airport, support for those trying to establish the whereabouts of relatives and additional capacity for the UK's consular operation.
FCDO officials are also maintaining contact with families in Britain who are worried about relatives or friends living in or travelling through areas affected by the floods.
The flooding, particularly in areas along the Nepal-China border, has caused extensive damage and disrupted communities across the country. With conditions continuing to evolve, British officials have been working with local authorities and emergency responders to identify those requiring assistance and ensure relevant information reaches affected families.
Rapid Deployment Teams are made up of volunteers with specialist training for overseas crises. They can be dispatched at short notice when a major emergency places additional demands on Britain's existing diplomatic and consular network.
The latest deployment is part of a broader British response to the disaster.
Alongside the consular operation, the UK Government has announced £5 million in humanitarian assistance to help Nepal respond to the flooding and begin recovery. The funding will support relief operations involving the United Nations, Red Cross and humanitarian organisations, working alongside the Nepalese government's own emergency response.
The new assistance builds on more than a decade of UK-backed efforts to improve Nepal's ability to withstand climate-related disasters, including measures aimed at strengthening resilience and preparedness.
Britain has also brought in additional humanitarian specialists to help strengthen coordination and decision-making as the emergency develops. Their expertise is intended to support the wider international response and help ensure resources are directed towards communities facing the greatest needs.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the UK would continue working with Nepalese authorities to support British citizens affected by the disaster.
“The situation in Nepal is deeply distressing, and our thoughts are with everyone affected by these devastating floods.
“Protecting British nationals and helping their families remains our priority. The deployment of a Rapid Deployment Team will provide additional support on the ground while our embassy continues its work alongside the Nepalese authorities and emergency responders.
“We will continue to do everything possible to ensure British nationals affected by this tragedy can access the assistance and information they need.”
British nationals in Nepal who need consular assistance can contact the British Embassy in Kathmandu or the FCDO's 24-hour assistance line on +44 (0)20 7008 5000.
People in the UK who are concerned about British relatives or friends affected by the flooding can also contact the FCDO for advice and support. Photo by Vyacheslav Argenberg, Wikimedia commons.
