Update on Consular Assistance for Singaporeans in Nepal and Tibet Flash Floods and Adequacy of Overseas Consular Mission for Disaster Response
Ministry of Foreign AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the consular assistance provided to Singaporeans affected by flash floods in Nepal and Tibet, and whether Singapore needs to expand its overseas consular network for disaster response. Mr Fadli Fawzi asked for an update on the number of Singaporeans assisted and whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has assessed the need to increase its missions abroad. In response, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan stated that MFA reached out to almost 100 Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents in Nepal and Tibet, and is assisting the families of nine missing citizens. He explained that MFA leverages over 50 Overseas Missions, Non-Resident Ambassadors, Honorary Consuls-General, foreign partners, and deployable Crisis Response Teams during overseas disasters. Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan added that MFA regularly reviews its diplomatic footprint, highlighting the recent opening of an Embassy in Mexico City and upcoming missions in Addis Ababa, Sabah, and Sarawak.
Transcript
19 Mr Fadli Fawzi asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs (a) whether an update can be provided on the number of Singaporeans who have requested and received assistance from the Ministry in relation to the flash floods in Nepal and Tibet; and (b) whether the Ministry has assessed the need to increase Singapore's network of consular missions abroad to improve the Ministry's ability to respond and assist Singaporeans during disasters overseas.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) reached out to almost 100 Singapore Citizens (SCs) and Permanent Residents known to be in Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region, China, to check on their safety and well-being. MFA is also providing consular assistance to the families of nine SCs who are still missing.
Singapore currently has a diplomatic footprint of over 50 Overseas Missions, supplemented by a network of Non-Resident Ambassadors and Honorary Consuls-General. When a crisis occurs in places where we do not have diplomatic representation, MFA works with foreign Governments and other partners to provide consular assistance to Singaporeans in need. For major incidents, we may deploy Crisis Response Teams, as we have done in the case of the Nepal and China floods.
MFA regularly reviews our diplomatic footprint to balance the need for broader coverage against our resource constraints as a small country. Earlier this year, we opened an Embassy in Mexico City. Next year, we will set up an Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Consulates in Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia.