Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák has reacted to criticism concerning several Slovak citizens currently present in Nepal and affected by the earthquake. Despite the statement that no member of the Slovak embassy provided them with competent information, the Minister claims the team is coordinating efforts to collect as much information about Slovaks in the area as possible. "We have provided help to everybody we have managed to contact," writes Miroslav Lajčák in his statement. He published his statement due to the criticism of entrepreneur Patrik Ziman. The head of a private radio claimed of the lack of information and help from the Slovak authorities in the life threatening situation. "It might happen to any Slovak be it in Nepal, Croatia or Hungary," reads his reaction to the Minister in return.
There might have been up to 75 Slovaks staying in Nepal at the time of the earthquake. 10 members of the Trek expedition to Annapurna left the country on Monday. A part of a Slovak mountaineering expedition to the Makalu peak decided to stay. Out of nine, its two injured athletes have already returned home. The other two who have stayed in the 5000 m base camp have joined the Polish expedition and despite the results of the earthquake they think they will continue climbing. The rest of the guides want to return but it is not possible at the moment. According to Dana Hromadkova, a wife of the expedition leader, the weather conditions are bad and the mountaineers have to walk back to Kathmandu. "This might take a week," she added.
Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak decided to dispatch financial humanitarian aid worth €30,000 for the earthquake relief efforts in Nepal. Apart from the state, there are also Slovak NGO organisations offering financial aid to earthquake affected areas such as Slovak Catholic Charity or People in Peril.
