Drones, portable generators provided to support search, rescue and relief operations after Rasuwa floods
KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 17
The Republic of Korea has provided drones and portable power generators to Nepal to support emergency response and recovery efforts following the devastating floods and landslides in Rasuwa and other affected areas.
The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nepal and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) handed over the emergency response equipment to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) on Thursday.
The assistance includes camera-equipped drones and portable 3KVA backup generators, which are expected to support search and rescue operations, assessment of affected areas and relief activities, particularly in locations where access is difficult or electricity supply has been disrupted.
The handover ceremony was attended by NDRRMA Chief Executive Officer Dharam Raj Uprety, UNDP Resident Representative in Nepal Kyoko Yokosuka and South Korean Ambassador-designate Park Jae-Kyung, along with embassy diplomats and government officials.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Park expressed sympathy to people who lost their homes and livelihoods in the recent floods and said the equipment was intended to provide practical support to response teams working on the ground.
He said the portable generators would help relief teams operate in areas with limited access to electricity, while drones could be used to search and assess difficult-to-reach locations and, when necessary, assist in delivering essential supplies.
South Korea has also deployed its Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) to support Nepal's response efforts. Korean rescue personnel have worked with the Nepal Army in search and rescue operations, while Korean forensic experts have been assisting the Nepal Police with DNA analysis and identification of victims.
Park said Korea viewed the assistance as part of its broader support for Nepal, extending from immediate emergency response to longer-term recovery and reconstruction.
"Recovery takes much longer," he said, noting that affected communities would need time to restore homes and livelihoods and repair damaged infrastructure.
Drawing on South Korea's own experience of post-disaster recovery, Park said the country wanted to remain engaged with Nepal beyond the immediate crisis.
South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun visited Kathmandu earlier this month and pledged further cooperation for resilient infrastructure and post-flood reconstruction.
The Korean government has also committed to advocating for international financial assistance and climate-resilience support for Nepal through international platforms.
The latest assistance adds to South Korea's ongoing emergency support as Nepal continues search, rescue, relief and recovery operations in areas affected by the recent floods and landslides.