Malaysia approves aid for families of 54 missing in Nepal-Tibet floods
The cabinet has approved a one-off payment for relatives of Malaysians still unaccounted for after the August disaster. Searches continue as Nepal moves into recovery work.
Key points
- Malaysia approved a one-off RM10,000 payment for each family of 54 missing citizens
- The cabinet decision was made by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Friday, Nov 6
- Payments will go through the National Disaster Management Agency by order of next-of-kin priority
- Floods in the Nepal-Tibet region began on Aug 26 after glacial ice and rock gave way
- Nepal reports at least 1,451 deaths and about 5,700 people still missing
Malaysia has agreed to pay a one-off sum of RM10,000, roughly US$2,460, to the relatives of each of 54 Malaysians who are still unaccounted for following the August flooding in the Nepal-Tibet border area, as reported by CNA. The cabinet signed off on the measure on Friday, November 6, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim presiding over the meeting.
Human Resources Minister R Ramanan made the announcement after attending a Deepavali carnival at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on the same day. According to him, the government reached its choice after lengthy internal deliberations.
Who will receive the money
The funds will be channelled through the National Disaster Management Agency, known as NADMA. Recipients will be ranked according to the agency’s next-of-kin priority list, which places spouses at the top, followed by parents and then children.
Ramanan said he had asked K Raveendran Nair, director-general of the Malaysian Indian Community Transformation Unit, to seek more information from the Finance Ministry. Nair has also been asked to reach out to the affected households.
The available reports do not say when the payments will begin. Further details on the funding are still to come, as the minister’s instruction to the Finance Ministry has not yet produced a published timetable.
How the disaster unfolded
The flooding began on August 26, when a collapse of glacial ice and rock released a surge of mud, water and debris down Himalayan valleys. The torrent carried away buildings and vehicles, damaged or destroyed roads and bridges, and knocked out communication networks and transport routes, which made rescue operations far harder.
Several travellers were among those affected. Tourists and pilgrims heading to Mount Kailash in Tibet, a holy place for both Hindus and Buddhists, were caught in the chaos. Malaysia originally listed 55 citizens as out of contact. One of them made it back home safely on October 1, which left 54 unaccounted for.
Wider toll and ongoing searches
Nepal has stopped its search-and-rescue work and switched to recovery. Malaysia, however, has said it will keep working to trace its missing nationals, despite Nepal’s change in approach.
Figures reported by CNA indicate the disaster has killed at least 1,451 people. Data from the Nepal government also shows that about 5,700 people remain missing, among them more than 600 foreign nationals.
For the families, the payment offers financial support while the search for loved ones continues. Their situation sits within a much larger disaster that has left thousands of people unaccounted for across the affected region.
What remains unclear
The reports do not say how long the tracing of the 54 Malaysians will take. They also do not state whether any of the remaining people have been located in a condition that has been confirmed.
Until the Finance Ministry and NADMA publish more details, the exact timing and process for the payments remain unconfirmed. Readers should follow updates from the Malaysian government for further information.
Frequently asked questions
How much will Malaysia pay each family?
The payment is RM10,000, roughly US$2,460, for each family of the 54 citizens still missing. The cabinet approved the measure on Friday, November 6.
Who will receive the payments first?
Payments will follow the priority list for next of kin set by the National Disaster Management Agency. Spouses come first, followed by parents and then children.
When did the Nepal-Tibet floods happen?
The floods began on August 26. They were triggered when glacial ice and rock collapsed, sending mud, water and debris through Himalayan valleys.
Sources
This article was written with the help of AI from reports by the outlets listed above. See our Editorial Policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
