39 Australians Missing in Nepal-Tibet Floods as Australia Pledges A$5 Million in Aid

Darwin, August 28: At least 39 Australian citizens are among nearly 1,500 people still missing following devastating flash floods and landslides in areas along the Nepal-Tibet border, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said.

The Australian government has launched urgent efforts to locate the missing Australians and announced A$5 million in humanitarian assistance to support communities affected by the disaster.

The aid will be used to provide food, emergency shelter, clean water, sanitation and medical services to people in the worst-hit areas.

Wong said the government’s immediate priority was to locate missing Australian citizens, ensure their safety and provide necessary consular assistance to their families.

Around 20 Australian officials are already working in Nepal, with additional personnel being deployed to support the response. Australia is also sending specialist teams with expertise in humanitarian assistance, communications, logistics and emergency planning.

How the A$5 Million Will Be Used

Under the government’s humanitarian assistance package, A$2 million will be provided to the World Food Programme (WFP).

Another A$2 million will be distributed through Australian humanitarian organisations working to support affected communities.

The remaining A$1 million will go to the Emergency Action Alliance, a coalition coordinating relief operations with local partners in Nepal.

Australia’s national broadcaster, the ABC, is also supporting relief efforts through its ABC Gives initiative. The campaign will help Emergency Action Alliance member organisations and their local partners deliver food, water, emergency shelter, financial assistance and other essential supplies to people affected by the floods and landslides.

Humanitarian Groups Mobilise

The Emergency Action Alliance, a coalition of 15 leading Australian humanitarian organisations, is coordinating relief efforts in response to the disaster.

Its members include Save the Children Australia, Plan International Australia and Oxfam Australia, along with other international humanitarian organisations.

The alliance said homes, roads, bridges and critical infrastructure had been severely damaged by the floods and landslides. Access to many affected communities has been cut off, making rescue and relief operations increasingly difficult.

Thousands of people are now in urgent need of shelter, food, clean water and medical assistance.

Emergency Action Alliance Executive Director Keren Morris said images emerging from Nepal and surrounding areas were devastating.

“Within hours, families have lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods, while entire communities have been cut off from essential services,” Morris said.

The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) has also backed the joint relief effort.

ACFID Chief Executive Matthew Maury said coordinated action was critical as humanitarian needs continued to grow. He said the joint initiative provided Australians with a reliable way to support people affected by the disaster.

Consular Support for Australians

The Australian government said it would consider increasing both humanitarian and consular assistance depending on how the situation develops.

Australians currently in affected areas have been urged to follow instructions from local authorities and regularly check the Australian government’s official travel advice.

Meanwhile, rescue teams in Nepal and Tibet continue to search for missing people as authorities assess the full scale of the disaster. With large areas still difficult to access, officials fear the humanitarian situation could deteriorate further in the coming days.