Source : Perth Now news
WHAT HAPPENED IN NEPAL?
* A glacier collapse unleashed a huge torrent of rock, ice, mud and debris through Himalayan mountain river systems across Nepal and Tibet on Wednesday
* The collapse caused catastrophic flash floods
* At least 579 people have been killed and almost 2500 people are still missing
* More than 90,000 people are estimated to have been affected by the disaster
HOW MANY AUSTRALIANS ARE INVOLVED?
* 41 Australians are missing
* 22 people are missing from three separate hiking tours; 15 of them were travelling with US-based tour company Himalayan Glacier Adventures
* A group of four lost contact while travelling separately
* A group of 14 family friends were on the Himalayan Glacier Adventure tour, all Hindu-Australians completing a sacred pilgrimage
* More than 300 other foreign nationals are also missing, along with more than 1000 Nepalese
* DFAT is assisting with 43 consular cases related to the matter
IS AUSTRALIA RESPONDING?
* Nepal has accepted Australia’s offer of $5 million in humanitarian aid
* Aid will go towards emergency kits of food and water, along with supporting Australian-based rescue and recovery organisations
* Additional personnel to support Australians affected are being sent to the region
* Nepalese-Australian families gathered for prayers and held a minute’s silence for those lost to the floods
WHAT ARE LEADERS SAYING?
* “There was quite a bit of despair and anxiety in (the) community; we’re doing our best to support the Tibetan and Nepalese communities here in Australia.” – Assistant Immigration Minister Matt Thistlethwaite
* “People would have seen the footage, which is a truly horrific event. At this point, Nepal is a developing country. It doesn’t have the resources that an event like that would have in Australia, so information is difficult.” – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
* “We are urgently working to identify how many Australians have been in the region and to confirm the welfare of any Australians who are not accounted for.” – Foreign Minister Penny Wong
* “The gravity of the situation is worse now because whole towns have swept away. Now there is nothing, it’s just a mudslide.” – Australian Nepalese Multicultural Centre vice president Keshav Kadel
* “With global warming, there is an expectation similar patterns of disasters will recur. We can benefit from the implementation of a warning system, similar to those triggered for tsunami warnings after 2004’s tsunami.” – University of Sydney associate professor Nader Naderpajouh
HOW TO CONTACT AUTHORITIES?
* Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Australian government 24-hour consular emergency centre at 1300 555 135 within Australia or +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
