HM the King’s Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, National Security Advisor and Royal Guard Commander, Major-General His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, has directed to form a team from the Royal Guard to train in the Himalayas Mountains in Nepal, and deliver relief aid to the “Sherpa” community there to help them overcome the current difficult situation resulting from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
HH Shaikh Nasser said that the Royal Guard is keen to ensure the best training opportunities for its affiliates at various countries, as well as deliver food supplies to the Himalaya people, amid the current difficult circumstances they are going through.
HH Shaikh Nasser pointed out that the Royal Guard’s expedition is being held in coordination with the Republic of Nepal and the “Seven Summits Treks” Company, one of the leading climbing expedition operators in the region.
HH Shaikh Nasser indicated that the Royal Guard team will undergo strenuous training to enhance their physical fitness, as the ultimate goal is to reach the summit of Mt Everest, the highest mountain in the world, with 8,848 m or 29,029.30 feet above sea level.
The Royal Guard expedition programme includes two additional climbs to the Lobuche East mountain (6119 m above sea level) and Mount Manaslu (8,156 m above sea level) over the next eight months to gain experience and be well-prepared for the final climb of Mount Everest in May, 2021.
Unfortunately, the Royal Guard team’s plans have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The team has been in daily communication with Seven Summits Treks so that that they are kept well updated about the situation in Nepal.
Although Nepal has had a few COVID-19 cases, it was obliged to impose a lockdown, suspending commercial flights to the country until further notice.
Given the fact that the Nepalese economy is reliant on its tourism/climbing income, the lockdown and halting of flights due to the pandemic meant that the country and its people have had to endure a very tough time.
Taking the local situation into consideration, HH Shaikh Nasser and Seven Summit Treks are looking to donate food supplies to the staffers who find themselves isolated up on the Himalayan mountain range with little access to basic supplies.
The rice and other food supplies will support the staff members and their families from the Sherpas to enable them overcome this very difficult period they are going through.
Commenting, Nepali Ambassador to Bahrain, Padam Sundas, said: “It is an immense pleasure to learn that, under the patronage of HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Royal Guard team is donating edibles to the Sherpas through Seven Summit Treks. I believe this humanitarian gesture of friendship and kindness bestowed upon the ones in need during such difficult and unprecedented times will be long cherished by the beneficiaries.”
Mingma Sherpa and Chhang Dawa Sherpa, from Seven Summits Treks, the expedition operator said: “Our team in Seven Summits Treks is one family. After receiving news of a kind gesture from HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa to donate the food supplies from the Royal Guard team to the Sherpas, we consider Bahrainis as our brothers. We at Seven Summits Treks thank HH Shaikh Nasser and look forward to seeing the Royal Guard Team very soon.”
