The UAE search and rescue team has located ten missing persons in Nepal’s Trishuli area as part of intensified efforts to assist local authorities following devastating floods, according to a report by the Emirates News Agency. The team arrived in the country on September 4 and has since worked alongside Nepalese officials in the Rasuwa and Trishuli districts north of Kathmandu. Its deployment forms part of a broader UAE humanitarian response that includes advanced technological support for locating survivors in rugged terrain.
Nepal’s floods, triggered by a glacier collapse and landslides, have claimed more than 1,200 lives with thousands remaining unaccounted for across the affected zones and bordering regions of Tibet. The UAE team, comprising experts from the Joint Operations Command, Dubai Police and the UAE Aid Agency, relies on drones for aerial imaging, surveys and three-dimensional mapping to pinpoint search locations efficiently. This approach has enabled faster access to remote sites while minimising risks to personnel operating in challenging conditions.
Hamoud Al Afari, Director of UAE Relief Operations, said the team continues its missions in coordination with Nepalese authorities, deploying its capabilities and expertise to support search and rescue efforts and locate missing people. The operations underscore the squad’s preparedness for complex field work amid difficult natural conditions in the region. Daily activities have demonstrated both professionalism and effectiveness in supporting the ongoing emergency response.
Beyond search and rescue, the UAE has sent four relief aircraft to Nepal carrying 186 tonnes of aid including tents, food, shelter materials, power generators and logistical equipment, a UAE Aid Agency update showed. The shipments are supplemented by locally procured supplies to speed delivery to impacted communities. These contributions are part of a $10 million humanitarian package approved under directives from President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The specialist group also brings capabilities in disaster relief, medical evacuation and first aid to complement its primary search mandate. Similar UAE teams have previously assisted Nepal, notably after the 2015 earthquake, providing a foundation of experience now applied to the current flooding crisis. Coordination with Nepali ministries ensures resources target the zones facing the greatest need.
Recent rescues, such as two workers pulled alive from a hydropower station tunnel nine days after the floods, have offered hope amid the disaster’s heavy toll, regional media outlets reported. The UAE team’s contributions integrate into a wider international assistance effort that continues to evolve as new information emerges from affected districts. Operations remain active with a focus on both locating additional missing individuals and delivering sustained relief support.
