The UAE Search and Rescue Team continues relief operations in Nepal’s Rasuwa, deploying its specialized capabilities in coordination with Nepalese officials following the devastating floods. Advanced technologies form a central part of the mission, with the team conducting field surveys and utilizing drones to generate aerial photographs, surveys and three-dimensional maps of the impacted zones. These tools enable better access to hard-to-reach locations and help pinpoint areas where missing persons may be located, according to a WAM report. The operations aim to accelerate the search process in a region still reeling from the disaster.
Hamoud Al Afari, Director of UAE Relief Operations, highlighted the significance of the deployment. “We are coordinating with the Nepalese authorities to direct search and rescue capabilities to the areas most in need, while making use of the advanced technologies available to the team to support and accelerate search operations and efforts to locate missing persons,” he said. Al Afari noted that the move underscores the UAE’s dedication to supporting affected communities through expert assistance and state-of-the-art resources. The team’s presence builds on the arrival of multiple aid flights in recent days.
The floods, triggered by a glacier collapse and subsequent landslides, have caused widespread destruction along the Nepal-Tibet border, The National reported. Nepalese authorities placed the death toll above 1,300 with more than 5,500 individuals still unaccounted for as of early September. The disaster struck in late August, sweeping away homes, infrastructure and leaving entire communities isolated under layers of mud and debris.
Under directives from President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE allocated a $10 million humanitarian aid package delivered via the UAE Aid Agency. Three relief planes have transported a cumulative 148 tonnes of supplies including food, shelter materials and power generators to the Himalayan nation. The third aircraft also carried the search and rescue specialists now active in Rasuwa.
The specialist team draws personnel from the UAE Joint Operations Command, Dubai Police and the UAE Aid Agency, equipping it with expertise in disaster relief, medical evacuation and first aid. Coordination with Nepal’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and other bodies has facilitated rapid integration into local response efforts. Officials received the mission upon landing, ensuring seamless collaboration from the outset.
This latest contribution adds to the UAE’s history of international disaster assistance, where similar teams have previously responded to earthquakes and floods in the region. The current mission focuses not only on immediate search but also on surveying damage to inform longer-term recovery planning. Data gathered through the 3D mapping will support Nepalese decision-makers in prioritizing reconstruction.
