Malaysia SMART Team Arrives In Nepal, To Receive Briefing Before Relief Mission

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 (Bernama) -- The Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) MAS01, which was deployed on a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission to Nepal, safely arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu at noon local time Saturday.

In a statement Sunday, the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) said the team completed its arrival procedures and mission protocols by 4.30 pm local time, including logistics clearance and member manifest verification.

"As of the latest update, the team is en route to the Malaysian Embassy to receive a briefing on the current situation.

"Further coordination will be carried out with the Embassy and local emergency management agencies to determine the team's deployment arrangements," NADMA said.

The agency added that NADMA and the Malaysian Embassy in Nepal will coordinate daily mission reports for the duration of the operation.

NADMA also confirmed that all team members are in good health, with no issues reported as of the latest update.

The media previously reported that 11 SMART personnel departed for Nepal yesterday at 9 am aboard a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) A400M aircraft from the Subang Air Base.

Also onboard were 12.4 tonnes of equipment, including rescue gear, detection devices, communication systems, high-capacity drone technology, and specialised tunnel rescue tools, along with a four-wheel-drive vehicle and a 10-tonne cargo truck.

-- BERNAMA