UK offers £5 million as Nepal flash floods leave over 1,000 missing

London,UPDATED: Aug 27, 2026 17:48 IST

The UK has offered 5 million pounds in aid and emergency responders to Nepal after flash floods killed hundreds of people and left more than a thousand missing, including around 33 British nationals. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the scenes from the country were "devastating" and urged British nationals affected by the crisis to follow the guidance of local authorities.

The UK government said it has already deployed consular support staff to the affected area to provide round-the-clock assistance to British nationals. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is also looking to provide humanitarian support after the Nepali government sought help for food, shelter and health services.

"It's a devastating picture that is emerging from what has happened in Nepal," Burnham told reporters during a visit to South Wales. "An offer has been made of emergency responders to head to the region, but that's obviously a matter for the Nepalese government. But also we've offered 5 million pounds to help with that response effort.

"Obviously, there are a number of British nationals who currently are thought to be missing and we'll be providing all the support we can to their families in what is a very distressing and devastating situation," he said.

The FCDO said comprehensive humanitarian assessments were likely to take time because of the scale of the damage. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said he had spoken to Nepali Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal on Thursday and conveyed Britain's support.

"I spoke to the Nepali Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal this morning and expressed Britain's solidarity and deepest condolences for the disaster that has occurred," Miliband said. "I thanked him for the efforts of the Nepali government in support of British nationals in the area. I also offered financial, search and rescue and other help to aid the disaster response. Above all, I told him we will do everything we can to help Nepal in its hour of need," he said.

The Foreign Office said it was working with development partners, donors and international allies on a coordinated response in the region after the natural disaster triggered massive landslides on Wednesday. It added that global funds to which the UK contributes, including the IFRC Disaster Relief Emergency Fund, were already releasing money to support the humanitarian response.

Flash floods on the Nepal-Tibet border caused rivers to overflow and spread thick mud across populated areas, burying houses and making rescue work difficult. The Nepal Centre for Disaster Management described the destruction as a "tsunami from the sky" and said villages had been "completely wiped out". The UK response includes financial support, offers of rescue assistance and consular help for British nationals affected by the disaster.

With PTI Inputs

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