Abu Dhabi: In a bid to help the Nepalese people deal with the large number of casualties resulting from the earthquake that hit the Himalayan country on Saturday and Sunday, a team to help with the search and rescue of victims has been dispatched.
The Ministry of Interior (MoI) on Saturday announced that it will send out a team on Sunday to help with the relief operation. On Sunday an aftershock estimated at 6.7 on the Richter Scale by the US Geological Survey hit the country making international aid much needed.
Lt. Colonel Mohammad Abdul Jalil Al Ansari, Head of the UAE Search and Rescue Team, Director General of Civil Defence in Abu Dhabi said that Lt. General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, gave orders to mobilise rescue officials right away and fulfil the orders of the higher leadership to relieve the people of Nepal. With an Emirati team of 88 professionals, including officers and rescuers, equipment and tools necessary for the search and rescue operations, the group was dispatched. The team will be accompanied by the UN assessment and coordination team to participate in the search and rescue operations and provide the international help needed to face the devastating effects of the earthquake.
Al Ansari added that the team will carry out its relief duties swiftly to help the UAE’s friendly nations by carrying out humanitarian responsibilities and field work. This exemplifies the keenness of the UAE to help the people affected with natural disasters all around the world, and help all the brotherly and friendly nations.
The official said that the team will use advanced equipment during the search and rescue operations to help and identify the victims, as well as other tasks.
Previously, the UAE’s search and rescue team participated in similar missions to help the victims of an earthquake in Pakistan and Indonesia in 2006 and 2007 and in Afghanistan in 2008 among others.
