Press Releases

27. 4. 201516:05

The Czech Republic to send a team of medical specialists to the earthquake-stricken Nepal

The Cabinet decided today to dispatch relief to Nepal, following a devastating earthquake that has claimed thousands of lives in the last several days. The Czech Republic will send a team of medical trauma specialists who will remain in the affected area for at least 14 days.

The Czech Trauma Team is an advanced mobile medical unit providing surgical, trauma, and resuscitation treatment and assistance for burns-related injuries in areas where large-scale accidents and natural disasters occur anywhere in the world. The team includes 36 medical specialists and 13 members of the Prague Fire Rescue Service.

The estimated cost, including air transport, will total 20 million crowns and will be paid from the Finance Ministry's budgetary reserves. The team is scheduled to depart tonight.

The Cabinet has also reviewed the situation of Czech citizens in Nepal, and praised efforts made to date by the Czech Embassy in New Delhi and the Honorary Consulate in Kathmandu, both of which continue to contact Czech nationals present in the region and to provide them with necessary consular assistance.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will offer Czech citizens in Nepal who want to return to the Czech Republic the option to travel in the special aircraft that will transport the trauma team.

The deadly earthquake, which occurred on Saturday 25 April 2015, has affected about a quarter of Nepal's territory, including the capital city of Kathmandu. Approximately 2,500 casualties have been reported, while the overall situation in the country remains unclear. The Czech Republic's official relief will be complemented by public fundraising events organized by humanitarian nonprofit organizations.