UAE offers condolences to Nepal over deadly floods and landslides

The United Arab Emirates has extended its condolences and solidarity to Nepal following severe floods and landslides that ravaged the Himalayan border region. The disaster, which struck on August 26, has claimed at least 95 lives, with local media reporting an additional 75 bodies recovered in Nepal. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed its sincere sympathy to the families of the victims and the people of Nepal, wishing a swift recovery for all those injured.

The catastrophic event impacted both Nepal and China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Chinese authorities reported three deaths and 265 missing individuals due to a mudslide originating from Nepal. It remains unclear if these figures overlap with the Nepalese casualty counts, as verification is ongoing. The scale of the disaster is immense, causing significant damage to infrastructure and property.

Initial investigations suggest that an earthquake may have triggered an ice-rock avalanche on the Lhende Khola river in Nepal. This avalanche is suspected to have caused the subsequent floods that swept through both Nepal and Tibet, as the river flows through both regions. The immediate aftermath has seen authorities issue warnings of a potential second flood event due to a remaining blockage upstream on the Lhende Khola river.

Flood alerts have also been issued for the Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, which share a border with Nepal. This precautionary measure is due to several rivers originating in the Himalayas that flow into the plains of these Indian states. The situation remains critical as rescue and recovery efforts continue amidst the threat of further natural disasters.

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In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) conveyed the UAE’s sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and to Nepal and its people over this tragedy, as well as its wishes for a speedy recovery for all the injured.