Nepal SAR: Specialised tech paves way after two offers declined, says SMART commander
Malaysia's SMART team was deployed to Nepal to assist in mud flood rescue operations after Nepal initially declined two offers of aid. The mission focuses on providing specialized technical expertise and drone technology that local teams lacked.
Why it matters
The deployment highlights the importance of matching international humanitarian aid with specific, identified needs rather than generic personnel support.
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia's third offer to assist Nepal in its search and rescue (SAR) operations for mud flood victims was accepted after two earlier offers were turned down, paving the way for the deployment of the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART), equipped with technical expertise and advanced detection equipment.
SMART commander Senior Fire Supt 1 Abdul Manaf Che Isa, who led the mission, said Malaysia initially offered to send 50 rescuers, followed by a second offer of 25 personnel with SAR equipment, but Nepal declined both offers because it already had sufficient rescue teams.
He said Nepal's government eventually accepted Malaysia's third offer, which involved deploying just 11 SMART personnel, nine high-capacity drones and specialised detection equipment, after several rounds of discussions.
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