BEIJING: China has provided emergency humanitarian assistance to Nepal after a severe mudslide disaster devastated their border areas on August 26, the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) said on Sunday.
The disaster, triggered by a sudden glacier collapse in Nepal’s border area, has caused significant casualties and left people missing on both sides.
CIDCA spokesperson Tang Ying said that while urgently carrying out rescue and relief operations on its own side, China actively implemented a package of assistance to Nepal, including emergency cash aid and humanitarian assistance.
At present, Chinese aid supplies have been delivered to Kathmandu, tunnel rescue experts have arrived at the disaster-stricken area in Nepal, and the Chinese side is simultaneously sharing important information such as images, satellite and hydrological data of the disaster area, said the spokesperson.
Carried by two Y-20 transport planes, the Chinese relief supplies and four Chinese rescue experts arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, at about 7 a.m. local time on Sunday to assist in disaster relief efforts.
The relief supplies, including tents, blankets, sleeping bags, hardtack and emergency kits, were handed over to the Nepali side at the airport.
Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming and Nepal’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun attended the handover ceremony.
The CIDCA spokesperson said that China and Nepal are a community linked by mountains and rivers. The two countries will stand together firmly, join hands to deal with the disaster and overcome the difficulties, and demonstrate through concrete actions the time-honored friendship that transcends the Himalayas, Tang added.
Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority said that 734 bodies had been recovered from mudslide-hit areas as of 9 a.m. local time on Sunday, with 2,498 people still missing. –The Daily Mail-CGTN news exchange item
