UK sends specialists, staff from Delhi
Tuesday, 28/04/2015
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LONDON: A £5 mn package is part of Britain’s response to help in the relief efforts in Nepal, where additional staff has been sent from London and the British high commission in New Delhi, Foreign Office sources here said.
There are currently several hundreds of British nationals in Nepal. The Foreign Office said it expected that “almost certainly” some of them would have been affected, but so far it has not received any reports of any of them killed or injured.
The Department for International Development (DFID) activated its rapid funding mechanism for charities and partners on the ground, as part of the new £5 million package. It includes £3 million released under the Rapid Response Facility and £2 million for the British Red Cross.
DFID deployed a team of over 60 search and rescue responders and medical experts. A chartered flight that left London for Kathmandu carried seven UK International Search and Rescue crews, four search and rescue dogs, a medical support team and a hazardous materials specialist.
The team includes trauma medics travelling as part of a DFID-deployed team; a five-strong Foreign Office Rapid Deployment Team who will provide consular assistance for British nationals; and experts from aid agencies including the British Red Cross.
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said, “British Embassy staff are on the ground and have provided help to around 200 nationals. Teams have been scouring areas looking for British nationals who may need assistance.”
