News Desk
The Maldivian Red Crescent (MRC) has launched an emergency aid drive to assist victims of catastrophic flooding in Nepal, marking a delayed institutional response as thousands of Nepali expatriates in the Maldives continue to navigate the fallout from the tragedy back home.
The disaster struck on Wednesday morning when a massive glacier collapsed in the high Himalayas along the Nepal-Tibet border, triggering destructive flash floods and mudslides. Over 300 deaths have been confirmed, while more than 1,300 people remain missing. The situation remains precarious as an unstable natural dam formed on the Bhote Koshi River threatens to trigger secondary flooding.
Under the “MRC Nepal Solidarity Fund,” the organization aims to channel public donations toward immediate relief operations. All money collected will be transferred to the Nepal Red Cross Society through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
However, the initiative comes after the disaster unfolded, following growing frustration among the thousands of Nepali migrant workers living and working across the Maldives. Expatriate community members had voiced painful disappointment over the initial lack of local solidarity drives, telethons, or corporate concessions from telecom providers—support mechanisms that were routinely offered during previous regional crises. While diplomatic notes of condolence were issued early on, practical support on the ground from Maldivian institutions was noticeably delayed.
Across the border in Tibet’s Gyirong County, Chinese state media reports at least 558 people missing, including 260 foreign nationals, as rescue teams continue operating across damaged valleys.
