UK deploys rapid response team to Nepal to support British nationals affected by floods

• Rapid Deployment Team sent to support British nationals and their families affected by devastating flooding in Nepal.
• Specially trained crisis response staff will arrive in Kathmandu on 29 August to reinforce consular operations and coordinate assistance with local authorities.
• The deployment forms part of the UK's wider response to the flooding, alongside £5 million of humanitarian support for relief and recovery efforts.

The UK is deploying a Rapid Deployment Team (RDT) to Nepal to support British nationals and their families affected by the devastating flooding along the Nepal-China border.

The team will arrive in Kathmandu tomorrow and will work alongside British Embassy staff and local authorities to provide additional consular support as part of response efforts.

The deployment forms part of the UK's wider response to the flooding, which has caused widespread devastation and affected thousands of people across Nepal. FCDO staff are working around the clock to support British nationals and their loved ones.

The Rapid Deployment Team will help coordinate assistance for British nationals arriving at and departing from the airport, support those seeking information about missing relatives, liaise with local authorities and emergency responders, and reinforce existing consular operations on the ground.

The team will also work closely with families in the UK who are concerned about loved ones in affected areas. Rapid Deployment Teams are specially trained crisis response volunteers who can be deployed at short notice to support British nationals during major overseas emergencies.

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said:

The scenes from Nepal are devastating, and our thoughts remain with everyone affected.

The safety and welfare of British nationals is our top priority. That is why we are deploying a Rapid Deployment Team to Nepal to provide additional support on the ground for British nationals and their families at what is an incredibly difficult time.

Our staff are working closely with the Nepali authorities, emergency responders and our embassy in Kathmandu to ensure those affected can access the assistance and information they need. We will continue to do everything we can to support British nationals impacted by this tragedy.

As the Prime Minister announced yesterday, the UK is also providing a £5 million package to assist Nepal with response efforts to these tragic floods. The humanitarian assistance will support the Government of Nepal's response efforts, including through a combination of UN, Red Cross and NGO interventions. This package builds on UK support to strengthen Nepal's resilience to climate-related disasters over the past 15 years.

Given the scale and complexity of the situation, the UK has also brought in additional humanitarian expertise. Early deployment of specialist personnel helps strengthen preparedness, coordination and decision-making during rapidly evolving emergencies.

British nationals in Nepal who require consular assistance should contact the British Embassy in Kathmandu or call the FCDO on +44 (0)20 7008 5000. Anyone concerned about family or friends affected by the flooding should also contact the FCDO for support.

Notes to editors

• The FCDO Rapid Deployment Team (RDT) is a cadre of specially trained volunteers who can be deployed at short notice to support British nationals during overseas crises and major emergencies.
• The team will work alongside staff from the British Embassy in Kathmandu and local authorities.
• The UK has announced £5m of humanitarian support to assist Nepal's response to the flooding.