S’pore police specialising in disaster victim identification headed to Nepal

The Singapore government will be sending humanitarian supplies and personnel to support Nepal's ongoing relief efforts.

This follows severe flash floods along the Nepal-China border on Aug. 26.

In a press release on Aug. 31, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) is deploying a team to Nepal, including officers specialising in disaster victim identification.

The deployment aligns with Nepal’s request.

The Singapore government will also deliver humanitarian assistance, including civilian and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) supplies.

This is on top of the Singapore government’s contribution of US$100,000 (S$127,171) to the Singapore Red Cross’ (SRC) public fundraising in support of the relief efforts on Aug. 28.

To date, the SRC has raised about S$1 million.

MFA added that its crisis response team has been deployed to Nepal since Aug. 27 to render consular assistance to affected Singaporeans there.

MFA also said the Singapore government will continue to work closely with the Nepal government to provide humanitarian assistance.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan spoke with Nepal Minister for Foreign Affairs Shisir Khanal on Aug. 31 to convey Singapore’s condolences to Nepal.

Vivian also commended the Nepal government’s disaster relief efforts and expressed appreciation for its assistance in the search for missing Singaporeans.

According to the United Nations, the death toll from the flash floods in Nepal has reached 903 as of Aug. 31.

More than 4,200 people remain missing.

At least nine Singaporeans remain missing.

More than 10,000 people have been rescued, including 252 foreign nationals.