BRUNEI-MUARA

BRUNEI's contingent has arrived in Kathmandu on Friday morning to provide aid to Nepal quake victims, after teaming up with Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in Changi and transiting in Thailand for refueling.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Defence issued yesterday, Brunei's five Royal Brunei Armed Forces personnel and three Gurkhas “immediately began coordinating” relief efforts upon arriving, and have joined SAF personnel at the Gokarna clinic to provide medical treatment.

Both forces arrived at the Tribhuvan International Airport aboard Singapore Air Force's C-130 aircraft at 10am.

Prior to being deployed to Gokarna, Brunei's contingent and SAF stayed at International Camp City, located near Tribhuvan International Airport, where other foreign military relief contingents are being housed.

RBAF Lieutenant Colonel Dr Muhammad Hiza Wardy Hj Abd Halim is leading Brunei’s contingent of two doctors and four paramedics. The contingent, which left Brunei on Wednesday, is expected to be in Nepal for at least two weeks.

Over 6,600 have lost their lives after a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck between Kathmandu and the city of Pokhara last Saturday.

Gokarna is located in the Bagmati zone of Kathmandu district, and has a population of over 7,000, according to Nepal’s 2011 census.

The Brunei Times