London, Aug 28: The United Kingdom has offered £5 million in financial assistance and emergency responders to Nepal following devastating flash floods that have claimed hundreds of lives and left more than a thousand people missing, including around 33 British nationals.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the situation in Nepal as “devastating” and said the UK had already deployed consular support staff to the affected region to provide round-the-clock assistance to British nationals.
“An offer has been made of emergency responders to head to the region, but that’s obviously a matter for the Nepalese government. But also we’ve offered £5 million to help with that response effort,” Burnham said during a visit to South Wales.
He said the UK would provide all possible support to the families of British nationals believed to be missing in the disaster.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla expressed their “profound sympathy” for those who lost loved ones and those anxiously awaiting information about missing friends and relatives.
The royal couple said many people in the UK have “strong, deep and personal ties” to the affected region and praised police, armed forces personnel and rescue workers for their efforts.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, also expressed concern over the scale of the devastation and thanked those working in dangerous conditions to rescue victims and assist affected communities.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said it was preparing humanitarian assistance following a request from the Nepalese Government for food, shelter and health services.
The department said a comprehensive assessment of humanitarian needs could take time given the extent of the damage.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said he had spoken with Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal and expressed Britain’s solidarity and condolences. He also offered financial assistance, search-and-rescue support and other aid to assist Nepal’s disaster response.
The FCDO said it was coordinating with development partners, donors and international allies to support a joint humanitarian response. Global funds supported by the UK, including the IFRC Disaster Relief Emergency Fund, are already releasing resources for relief efforts.
The flash floods near the Nepal-Tibet border caused rivers to burst their banks, inundating populated areas with mud and debris and creating extremely difficult conditions for rescue teams.
Nepal’s Centre for Disaster Management described the disaster as a “tsunami from the sky”, with some villages reportedly wiped out completely.
