Statement From Her Majesty's Ambassador to Nepal, John Rankin
John Rankin provides an update on the ongoing work of the British Government in Nepal
This continues to be a major disaster, and logistics and communications in Nepal remain very difficult. Our priorities remain to provide assistance to British nationals and much needed shelter, medical supplies, water and sanitation for the people of Nepal.
We understand this is a very difficult time for people back home still waiting for news of their loved ones. Throughout the week we’ve been working around the clock to locate British nationals, and we have now provided direct practical assistance to over 350 of them. We’ve also coordinated helicopter airlifts for stranded British nationals with the Nepalese emergency authorities and deployed emergency response teams to Pokhara to the west and Nuwakot to the north of Kathmandu. We will deploy further teams to regions where we believe British nationals may be located in the coming days.
So far we’ve arranged the evacuation of 140 British passengers, and many more have been able to leave by commercial means from Kathmandu airport. An RAF C17 flight has arrived today with more vital aid and on its return carried more British and foreign nationals to Delhi for onward journeys.