ARE Nepal country director, Robin Needham, 52, was among those killed by the tsunami in Phuket, the organisation announced on Thursday. Needham who took up his post in Nepal six years ago was known to be committed to Nepal's development, especially about the welfare of Nepali children. As chairman of the Association of INGOs working in Nepal, Needham was deeply concerned about the conflict and the effect it was having on ordinary Nepalis. In Nepal, CARE is involved in community forestry, primary health, family planning and HIV/AIDS awareness, education and safe drinking water.

Needham had worked with CARE for 24 years and served with the charity in Somalia, Kenya, Bangladesh and Ethiopia. An avid diver, he was in Phuket's Golden Buddha beach with his wife and children for Christmas break. The rest of the Needham family survived and have been rescued.

The body of Krishna Adhikari from Kathmandu was rescued in Khao Lak and has been cremated, while a survivor, Rupesh Gurung is undergoing treatment at a local hospital. Him Prakash Pokhrel who worked in a hotel near Phuket is still missing, as are five other Nepalis. "My brother still has not been found and another Nepali who worked in the same hotel is also missing," Pokhrel's brother, journalist Peshal Pokhrel, said in Kathmandu.