Switzerland sends search and rescue specialists to Pakistan

The Swiss team is made up of the head of mountain rescue in Zermatt, a mountain guide and paramedic, and a dog-handler with an avalanche dog. They will begin work on Tuesday to reinforce the search efforts. The office of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in Islamabad is in close contact with the Pakistani rescue teams.On Sunday and Monday, the search for victims of the avalanche disaster was continued with high intensity. The searchers used heavy equipment to dig through the approximately 25 metres of snow, rocks and mud under which the camp has been buried. Hope of finding survivors is very slight and so far no victims have been located.

Switzerland has been actively involved in development cooperation in Pakistan for more than 40 years. Its activities are focused on combating poverty and supporting especially disadvantaged population groups in the border region with Afghanistan.