Australia has pledged $3.6 million in humanitarian aid for communities affected by severe flooding along the Nepal-China border, as the disaster leaves hundreds dead and thousands missing.
The government will also deploy additional consular staff to assist Australians affected by the disaster, as the number of Australians reported missing rose to 39.
Flash floods triggered by a glacier collapse have killed at least 359 people and left nearly 1,000 others missing in the region, about half of them foreigners.
“The extraordinary scale of this disaster and the remoteness of the affected region mean immense challenges lie ahead for the response and recovery,” Wong said in a joint statement with International Development Minister Anne Aly.
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The aid will be divided between the United Nations World Food Programme and Australian non-governmental organisations supporting relief efforts.
An Australian crisis response specialist has already travelled to Kathmandu, while a team of three humanitarian workers is expected to arrive within 48 hours to support Australian personnel already in the country.
The government said it would continue to monitor the situation and provide consular assistance to Australians affected by the floods.
