Three RAF Chinooks were sent to Nepal but were grounded in Delhi India for more than a week and returned to the UK without being used after the Nepalese Government denied entry arguing would have damage the structurally weakened buildings.
UK Department for International Development, May 03, 2015 - On 25 April, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck an area between Kathmandu and Pokhara, Nepal. The government of Nepal has requested international assistance and the UK government is responding.
Thousands are in need of shelter, water and food. We are working to ensure survivors get the help they need.
Summary of UK humanitarian response
The UK has released a £22.8 million package of emergency aid. This includes:
- more than 60 search and rescue responders and medical experts to support the relief effort in Nepal
- a 30-strong medical team carrying 8 tonnes of equipment including medical supplies and bandages, a generator and tents
- an 8-strong team of British disaster and rescue experts to help assess and coordinate the international effort
- £3 million released under the Rapid Response Facility (RRF) so partners can address immediate needs on the ground and £2 million for the British Red Cross
- an RAF C-17 aircraft carrying more than 1,100 shelter kits and over 1,700 solar lanterns, along with a team of Gurkha engineers
- airfield handling equipment including 2 forklift trucks to facilitate the swift movement of aid supplies off aircraft and help to ease congestion at Kathmandu airport
- 3 Royal Air Force CH47 Chinook aircraft and £2.5 million funding for additional UN helicopters
- support for 6 charities (Save the Children, Mercy Corps Scotland, Care International UK, ActionAid, Oxfam and Handicap International) to deliver life-saving aid
- £5.3 million aid support package to the UN following their ‘Flash Appeal’
- an agreement to fund humanitarian secondees to the World Food Programme, Unicef and UNFPA - experts in water, health and sanitation who will ensure support for the most vulnerable people affected by this disaster
- matching the first £5m of public donations to the DEC appeal
- Gurkhas already providing informal assistance to around 200 nationals at their base through first aid and logistical support. They are also able to provide language assistance to search and rescue teams as they speak both English and Nepali
Thousands are in need of shelter, water and food. We are working to ensure survivors get the help they need.
Summary of UK humanitarian response
The UK has released a £22.8 million package of emergency aid. This includes:
- more than 60 search and rescue responders and medical experts to support the relief effort in Nepal
- a 30-strong medical team carrying 8 tonnes of equipment including medical supplies and bandages, a generator and tents
- an 8-strong team of British disaster and rescue experts to help assess and coordinate the international effort
- £3 million released under the Rapid Response Facility (RRF) so partners can address immediate needs on the ground and £2 million for the British Red Cross
- an RAF C-17 aircraft carrying more than 1,100 shelter kits and over 1,700 solar lanterns, along with a team of Gurkha engineers
- airfield handling equipment including 2 forklift trucks to facilitate the swift movement of aid supplies off aircraft and help to ease congestion at Kathmandu airport
- 3 Royal Air Force CH47 Chinook aircraft and £2.5 million funding for additional UN helicopters
- support for 6 charities (Save the Children, Mercy Corps Scotland, Care International UK, ActionAid, Oxfam and Handicap International) to deliver life-saving aid
- £5.3 million aid support package to the UN following their ‘Flash Appeal’
- an agreement to fund humanitarian secondees to the World Food Programme, Unicef and UNFPA - experts in water, health and sanitation who will ensure support for the most vulnerable people affected by this disaster
- matching the first £5m of public donations to the DEC appeal
- Gurkhas already providing informal assistance to around 200 nationals at their base through first aid and logistical support. They are also able to provide language assistance to search and rescue teams as they speak both English and Nepali
See also |
Chinook HC.4 in
Royal Air Force Nepal Earthquake 2015
27 Squadron Royal Air Force 
