An RAAF flight carrying hygiene kits, shelter and solar lights will leave for Nepal this morning, as Foreign Affairs Minister and Acting Prime Minister Penny Wong expresses 'grave concerns' over the 43 missing Australians after the Nepal-Tibet flash flood. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.
More than 4,400 people are still missing on both sides of the border, with more than 930 people confirmed dead. Wong told the ABC's 7.30 program last night that the federal government is urgently seeking to find the whereabouts of the 43 missing Australians.
She said the Australian government has provided $8 million in aid so far and noted that Australian citizens had donated $2 million to a public appeal – something that the federal government is matching.
'We are deploying an RAAF aircraft to deliver these kits which are designed to support people in circumstances of natural disasters that destroy infrastructure and their shelter. Whether it's shelter kits, lights, hygiene kits, these are the things needed for those people who are facing the devastation of their homes and their communities,' Wong said.
Australian aid pallets are loaded at RAAF Base Amberley in response to the catastrophic flooding in Nepal. Photograph: LACW Taylor Anderson.
On the 43 missing Australians, Wong said Australia has been engaging with the Nepali and Chinese governments but the recovery and search effort is 'very difficult'. Nine of the 43 missing were on the Chinese side of the border at the time of the floods, but no more information was available on the 43 missing, she said.
'I first want to again express what I've been expressing to the families and friends of the 43 Australians who are not accounted for, that this is such a difficult time, it's an incredibly distressing, traumatic time. I think all Australians are with you. And certainly we are with you. We are working to do whatever we can and to provide any information we obtain,' Wong said.