UK sends £5m help to Nepal in earthquake aftermath

LONDON (ShareCast) - The UK has sent £5m to help people affected by the earthquake in Nepal as the death toll reached more than 3,000 people. UK Prime Minister David Cameron made the announcement on Sunday, a day after a 7.9 on the Richter scale earthquake lashed the country and later a powerful aftershock. Of the total funds, £3m will be used to address immediate needs, while £2m will be given to the Red Cross.

The earthquake was the country's worst natural catastrophe since 1934, when another quake left 8,500 dead.

Cameron added that a UK rescue and search team would be travelling to Nepal on Sunday night, and a RAF aircraft would be sent on Monday.

The number of deaths rose to 3.617, in addition to the 6,538 wounded, the local police reported on Monday.

UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said he expected several hundred British nationals to be among the victims, but no official reports of any killed or injured has been released, although 65 Britons were reported missing. "British embassy staff have helped over 200 British nationals who've presented at the embassy directly," he added.