THE 170 Irish citizens caught up in the earthquake tragedy in Nepal have now been accounted for, the Irish government has confirmed.
"I am delighted that all Irish citizens notified to my Department have now been accounted for, and that many of them are now safely home in Ireland,” Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan announced this afternoon.
“The Consular Division of my Department and our Embassy in New Delhi remain in ongoing contact with a number of people who have yet to leave Nepal, and will continue to assist those citizens and families who require additional support,” he added.
The statement comes after the Department for Foreign Affairs activated an Emergency Consular Response Centre on Saturday, April 25 – shortly after the devastating 7.8-magnitude quake hit the Southern Asian region on Saturday morning.
The Emergency Consular Response team has since been working with officials at the Irish Embassy in New Delhi to account for all Irish citizens notified as being in the affected areas at the time.
A total of 170 names were received by the team, the last of whom was contacted last night, the Department confirmed today.
"I know this has been a difficult experience for many Irish visitors to Nepal. While it is good news that there has been no Irish fatality, my thoughts remain with the people of Nepal at this very tragic time,” Minister Flanagan added, before confirming that Ireland would continue to offer to support to those affected by the disaster, which has now claimed more than 6,000 lives, more generally.
"Our initial funding of €1,000,000 will provide life-saving assistance to families who have been displaced,” he claimed.
“Officials in Irish Aid will continue to monitor needs assessments and requests from the Government of Nepal, and my Department will ensure that Ireland responds to this crisis in the best way we can."
Minister for Development, Trade Promotion and North South Co-operation, Seán Sherlock added that a member of the Rapid Response Corps is deploying to Nepal to assist the aid effort.
"Yesterday, I announced that we are dispatching 63 tonnes of our prepositioned tents, tarpaulins, blankets and other emergency relief items under Ireland’s Rapid Response Initiative to help the Nepalese people in an airlift valued at over €500,000,” he said,
“Today, a highly skilled member of our Rapid Response Corps is deploying from Cork to Kathmandu to work as surge capacity with UNICEF in the water and sanitation area," he added.
