UAE Sends Advanced Laser Rescue Gear and 20 Tons of Aid to Nepal

SP Upreti

The United Arab Emirates has scaled up its disaster response in Nepal with the arrival of a third batch relief aircraft at Tribhuvan International Airport, carrying an additional 20 tons of humanitarian aid and essential supplies.

The Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Nepal, Abdulla Saeed Mubarak Jarwan Alshamsi handed over the materials to Mahabir Pun, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, on Thursday evening.

This latest flight pushes the total volume of emergency assistance delivered via the UAE’s on-going humanitarian air bridge to 148 tons. Altogether, a 14-member team has arrived, including eight rescue specialists.

Minister Pun extended his gratitude on behalf of the Government of Nepal to the UAE for this support. He states that the UAE has sent laser vehicles that can be used to detect situation of people trapped inside the tunnels, along with cold storage equipment to manage bodies and drones, which will be helpful for the undergoing rescue operations.

The ambassador said that UAE will support further aids to Nepal to help rescue, relief and rehabilitation stating the long-term bilateral friendship between UAE and Nepal.

The continuous airlift builds upon two previous aid flights dispatched earlier under the directives of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, which brought a combined 128 tonnes of food supplies, shelter materials, medical goods, and power generators.

The UAE relief mission, backed by a US$10 million allocation for early recovery and stability, addresses the widespread destruction caused by severe floods and landslides that have left dozens dead, injured, and missing across Nepal.

Alongside the cargo, a specialized Emirati mission featuring experts from the Joint Operations Command, the Dubai Police Search & Rescue Team, and the UAE Aid Agency remains on the ground. Operating in close coordination with the UAE Embassy in Kathmandu, local authorities, and international organizations, the specialized teams are assisting with medical evacuations, first aid, and search and rescue operations.

The UAE Aid Agency is working directly with local partners in Kathmandu to streamline logistics, ensuring that the cumulative 148 tons of relief supplies are swiftly distributed to vulnerable groups, including men, women, and children, in the hardest-hit regions.