Singapore's Assistance in Nepal Earthquake

Mr Ang Wei Neng asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs what is the assistance which Singapore has rendered to Nepal to help Nepal recover from the recent earthquake that took place on 25 April 2015.

Thank you. Mdm Speaker, within hours of receiving the shocking and sad news, the Singapore Government mobilised a disaster relief team for deployment to Nepal in aid of relief efforts. The Home Team mounted its largest-ever deployment for an overseas disaster relief operation. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) formed "Operation Lionheart (Nepal, Earthquake)" – the 14th such Lionheart mission – comprising a 60-member search-and-rescue team. In addition, a 66-member- strong Singapore Police Force (SPF) contingent, including Gurkha Contingent officers, was also deployed to Nepal.

Over the course of the deployment, the SCDF and SPF contingents operated in several areas in Nepal, such as the Lalitpur district around Kathmandu, Pokhara and Gorkha. The SCDF and SPF contingents worked with the Nepalese authorities and other foreign teams to provide humanitarian assistance, including search-and-rescue, relief aid and medical assistance, to the affected people, with the GC officers helping to facilitate relief operations as they were familiar with the language, terrain and local communities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) also despatched a four-person Crisis Response Team to Kathmandu to provide consular assistance to Singaporeans stranded in Nepal. Our Embassy in New Delhi also sent an officer to support the team subsequently.

Page: 16

At the same time, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) immediately mobilised a joint medical team of 22 personnel and an advance team of six personnel from the Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Coordination Centre or RHCC. C-130 aircraft were also deployed to airlift the personnel, equipment and relief supplies into Kathmandu.

A further six personnel from the Changi RHCC were deployed, together with additional medical supplies. Eight members of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and seven members from the Ministry of Health (MOH) were also deployed together with the SAF's medical team. The combined medical team has, to date, treated more than 3,000 patients. The RHCC assisted the Nepalese national disaster management authorities and military with their efforts to coordinate the relief efforts. Eleven sorties have been flown in and out of Kathmandu by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), transporting more than 100 tonnes of equipment and relief supplies, various Singapore contingents, as well as evacuating Singaporeans from Nepal.

Mdm Speaker, the officers involved in this disaster relief effort have worked tirelessly, often times under trying conditions. I would like to express my appreciation to all of them for their dedication and hard work, and to their family members for their support.

In addition to mobilising our assets, the Singapore Government contributed a total of S$250,000 through the Singapore Red Cross (SRC). An initial S$100,000 was given as seed money to help kick-start the SRC donation drive. However, as news of the severity and scale of the disaster became clearer and there were increasing calls for international aid, we increased our contribution by another S$150,000 to support the SRC's efforts to purchase emergency supplies. To date, SRC has raised more than S$4.5 million, sent 14 personnel, including two medical teams with a total of 11 personnel and S$200,000 worth of emergency supplies and relief items, including food, household kits and shelter tool kits, to Nepal.

This financial contribution complements the on-going efforts by Singaporeans and non-government organisations (NGOs) to raise funds for the relief efforts in Nepal. Many Singaporeans have been moved by the tragedy. They have dug deep into their pockets and contributed generously. Other NGOs, including Mercy Relief and religious organisations have also raised more than S$800,000 to date, with many of them mounting medical and humanitarian missions to Nepal. The government of Nepal has expressed appreciation for Singapore's assistance and support to Nepal and the Nepalese people.

Mdm Speaker, I would like to assure the House that in the midst of these relief efforts, the Government also spared no effort in looking after the welfare of Singaporeans affected

Page: 17

by the disaster in Nepal.

MFA's Crisis Response Team arrived in Kathmandu within a day to assist Singaporeans wishing to return home. The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) facilitated the return of 71 Singaporeans, along with 24 other nationals, on the returning C-130 aircraft. Throughout the crisis, MFA continued to reach out to Singaporeans in Nepal to render assistance and, within five days of the earthquake, had accounted for the safety of all Singaporeans who e-registered with MFA.

Mdm Speaker, one takeaway for me from this crisis is: help us to help yourselves. I would, therefore, like to take this opportunity to encourage Singaporeans travelling overseas to e-register so that we can contact you or your next-of-kin promptly in the event of a crisis.

As for Mr Ang's question of what assistance Singapore has rendered to help Nepal recover, at present, international efforts are still focused on disaster relief and humanitarian aid. We will continue to do what is within our means to assist and support Nepal during this difficult time.

Mdm Speaker, in conclusion, I would also like to express our deepest condolences to the government and people of Nepal during this difficult period, and to extend comfort to the families of our Gurkha Contingent in Singapore.

Thank you, Madam. It is heartening to see how readily Singapore responded to the disaster in Nepal. I would like to ask the Second Minister: now that the disaster relief phase is coming to an end, how would Singapore contribute to the long-term reconstruction phase that follows? Nepal is one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world and needs international support to carry on its work to reconstruct the whole country. Singapore has expertise in various areas, especially in masterplanning and housing. Can I ask the Second Minister if Singapore would be contributing to the reconstruction efforts in Nepal?

It is clear that the disaster in Nepal has taken a very big toll on the Nepalese as well as on the country. At this point in time, as I mentioned, an assessment has not been made. The Nepalese are still asking for help in humanitarian aid and the outpouring has not been coordinated. Until such time, we do not want to pre-empt the kind of aid that is needed.

Page: 18

In the same way, too, when the relief and rescue work was done, not everything that went into the place were things that the Nepalese needed. So, when the international community comes together to help them with reconstruction, Singapore will do our part to contribute expertise in a way that we can and not overextend ourselves so that we do not over-reach what we can do as a nation.

But we should also not discount the public in Singapore and NGOs, such as Mercy Relief as well as SRC, to extend their help also, in the development and rebuilding of Nepal.

Mdm Speaker, I thank the Second Minister for the comprehensive reply. Firstly, I want to offer my condolences to the Nepal citizens who have lost their loved ones in this earthquake and also congratulate and thank our Singapore team members – SPF officers, SCDF officers, and SAF officers – for doing a great job in Nepal. I also feel for the Singaporeans who were affected by the earthquake in Nepal.

I understand the Second Minister had answered that we would look at what kind of effort we could provide Nepal in due time. However, I would specifically like to ask the Second Minister whether the Government would consider assisting Nepal to rebuild parts of the destroyed areas, similar to what we have done for Aceh.

Secondly, I would like to ask the Second Minister how MFA kept in touch with the Singapore Mount Everest Climbing team after the 25 April earthquake. What advice did MFA give to the team when the team initially decided to carry on with their climb despite extensive damages in Kathmandu and the risk of avalanches in the mountain areas? I understand the team only decided to end its mission on 29 April, four days after the earthquake.

I thank the Member for the question. As I mentioned, it is too early to pre-empt the kind of aid that we should be giving to Nepal or whether to scale it to the kind of aid that we gave to Aceh. Clearly, even in Aceh, all our NGOs played a very big part, because they were our good neighbours, they had connections and, sometimes, NGOs can do a better job than governments.

In terms of the expedition by Singaporeans who went there, they were in very close touch with the authorities, as well as the base communications. At times, they also communicated personally with me. We always assured them that if they needed to get help, if they had the wherewithal to do it, they will be supported. You must remember that the Everest base camp was also part of the disaster area. Many people, climbers, also died there.

Page: 19

It was a very difficult terrain. Despite that, arrangements were made, they came out, went back to Kathmandu and they are now back in Singapore. So, we are really thankful for the efforts they have made to fly the Singapore flag, to get up to the peak of Everest, to celebrate SG50. Unfortunately, they did not achieve it but, in the process, they knew what was more important – to keep safe, to make sure that they can come back safely and without harm to themselves, and, hopefully, one day, they can pursue their dreams.