Australia sends aid to Nepal as 39 citizens missing in floods

Australia is dispatching US$3.6 million in aid to Nepal and sending additional consular staff to assist communities devastated by recent floods. Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the support on August 28, as the number of missing Australians climbed to 39.

The catastrophic flooding, triggered by a glacier collapse along the Nepal-China border, has resulted in at least 359 deaths and left nearly 1,000 people missing, with foreigners accounting for half of those unaccounted for. "The extraordinary scale of this disaster and the remoteness of the affected region mean immense challenges lie ahead for the response and recovery," Wong stated, highlighting the significant difficulties in reaching affected areas.

The Australian aid package will be divided between the United Nations’ World Food Programme and various Australian non-governmental organizations. To bolster on-the-ground efforts, an Australian crisis response specialist has already arrived in Kathmandu, and a team of three humanitarian workers is set to deploy within 48 hours to support existing Australian personnel.

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The extraordinary scale of this disaster and the remoteness of the affected region mean immense challenges lie ahead for the response and recovery.