Kathmandu [Nepal], September 8 – Australia will establish a special family assistance centre in Kathmandu to provide information and support to families of Australian citizens who remain uncontactable following the devastating Bhotekoshi-Trishuli floods in Nepal.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong told Parliament on Monday that nearly 50 Australian personnel had been deployed to support search and rescue efforts and disaster response in Nepal.
She said Australian officials in Kathmandu, Beijing, New Delhi and Canberra were working around the clock to determine the whereabouts of missing citizens.
Wong said special case officers from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Federal Police had been assigned to provide families with regular updates and necessary assistance.
Two social workers from Services Australia arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday night to support affected families, she said.
Wong said the disaster had also deeply affected Nepali and Tibetan communities in Australia as well as Australian Hindu communities connected to pilgrimage routes and sacred sites in the affected areas.
Australia’s Senate expressed condolences to those killed and to families awaiting news of missing relatives. PM Anthony Albanese had earlier expressed sorrow over the devastation and said Nepal was not alone.
