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KUALA LUMPUR – All official media statements regarding the flooding in Nepal, including the involvement and latest developments concerning the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART), will be issued only through the Foreign Ministry (Wisma Putra) for coordination purposes.
The National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) said it would continue to work with Wisma Putra by providing verified operational information from time to time for dissemination through a single official channel.
"NADMA appreciates the cooperation of all parties in ensuring that information is conveyed consistently, systematically and responsibly," it said in a statement today.
Yesterday, SMART was reported to have arrived safely in Dhunche, Nepal, to establish a forward operating base and begin aerial reconnaissance using drones in disaster-affected areas.
Last Saturday, the SMART MAS01 team, which is participating in the Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Mission, arrived in Kathmandu aboard a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) A400M aircraft.
The team also brought 12.4 tonnes of search and rescue (SAR) equipment, including high-capacity drones, communication systems and tunnel rescue equipment, to support operations in the country hit by severe flooding.
A total of 55 Malaysians are still reported to be uncontactable following the disaster, while another 77 Malaysians who were located safe in Tibet and Nepal have been brought to Kathmandu to undergo the necessary procedures before returning to Malaysia. – BERNAMA
