SAF deploys 2 aircraft as part of relief efforts in Nepal

SINGAPORE — Two Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) C-130 aircrafts were deployed to Kathmandu, Nepal today (April 26) as part of relief efforts, in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake yesterday.

Personnel from the Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Coordination Centre as well as a 69-member contingent of officers from the Singapore Civil Defence Force and the Singapore Police Force were on board the aircraft, said the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).

The personnel will assist the Nepalese national disaster management authorities and military with relief efforts, said MINDEF. A medical team from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) comprising 16 medical personnel, is currently on standby to be deployed to provide medical aid to victims of the earthquake, said MINDEF.

Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Ng Chee Meng and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Masagos Zulkifli - who is also Second Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs - were present at the Paya Lebar Airbase today to send off the Singaporean contingent.

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said today on his Facebook page that the Indian military as well of other countries have also pledged their support to relief efforts.

“So far, more than 30 aftershocks have occurred, some of them measuring as high as 6.6 on the Richter Scale. With a population of 1.12 million people in Kathmandu within a land area of 50.67km² (roughly the size of Holland-Bukit Timah GRC), Changi RHCC assesses this disaster to be in the highest category,” he added.