- Canada deployed a 10-member team to Nepal to locate approximately 30 Canadians and permanent residents missing after devastating floods and landslides.
- The disaster has claimed 903 lives and left over 4,000 missing, with mountainous terrain and debris severely hindering rescue operations.
- The Canadian government is providing $5 million in urgent humanitarian assistance to support emergency relief efforts for communities across the region.
- Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand confirmed one missing Canadian was found safe, as teams coordinate with local authorities to find others.
Ottawa/Kathmandu: As families anxiously wait for news of loved ones caught in one of Nepal’s deadliest recent disasters, the Canadian government has sent a 10-member team to the country to help locate missing Canadians and permanent residents and support those affected by the floods.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Monday that the Canadian team, which includes a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), is working on the ground with Nepalese authorities and local partners to determine the whereabouts of Canadians reported missing and assist their families.
The Canadian deployment comes as the human toll of the disaster continues to rise.
According to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), 903 people have died and 4,247 remain missing in Nepal following devastating floods and landslides along the Himalayan border with China.
For families in Canada, the figures represent more than statistics. Each missing person is a parent, child, spouse, relative or friend whose family is waiting for a phone call that could bring either relief or heartbreaking news.
Anand said Saturday that one Canadian who had earlier been reported missing had been found safe, providing some relief amid the uncertainty.
However, approximately 30 Canadians and permanent residents remain unaccounted for, according to the Canadian government. Officials have cautioned that the number could change as communication is restored and more information becomes available from remote areas.
Rescue teams race against time
The disaster struck the Himalayan region on August 26, sending huge amounts of water, mud, ice and debris through valleys and settlements. Homes were damaged, roads and bridges were swept away, and several hydropower projects were severely affected.
The mountainous terrain has made the search particularly difficult. Rescue workers are having to clear tonnes of mud and debris while dealing with damaged roads, unstable slopes and the continuing risk of further landslides.
Among the most difficult rescue efforts are those involving workers believed to be trapped inside hydropower tunnels. Nepalese authorities have reported hundreds of workers missing from several hydropower projects, prompting rescue teams to use heavy machinery and controlled explosions to clear blocked passages.
For rescuers, every hour matters. For families, every hour without information brings greater anxiety.
Canada provides humanitarian assistance
Alongside its consular response, the Canadian government has announced $5 million in urgent humanitarian assistance for Nepal.
The funding will support emergency relief efforts and help provide essential assistance to communities struggling with the destruction caused by the floods and landslides.
The Canadian government has also been working to maintain communication with families in Canada whose relatives may be in the affected areas. Officials are gathering information from local authorities and attempting to verify the safety of people whose whereabouts have not been confirmed.
The disaster has also affected the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Chinese authorities have reported 16 deaths and 546 people missing in the affected area, adding to the scale of the humanitarian crisis on both sides of the border.
A disaster measured in lives
The floods have left communities facing the difficult task of finding missing relatives, recovering bodies and beginning to rebuild homes and livelihoods.
For those still waiting, however, recovery remains a distant concern. Their immediate hope is simply to hear that a missing family member has been found alive.
Canadian authorities say their priority remains locating Canadians and permanent residents whose safety has not yet been confirmed and ensuring that affected families receive the support they need.
As rescue teams continue working through mud, damaged infrastructure and difficult mountain terrain, families in Canada and Nepal remain focused on the same question: Where are their loved ones?
The Canadian government has said it will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide further assistance as search and rescue operations continue.
