Mercy Corps is assessing the situation in Nepal following this morning's 7.8 magnitude earthquake, which struck just northwest of the capital of Kathmandu.
We do not yet know the full extent of the damage, but reports so far indicate that hundreds have died in the worst earthquake to hit the region in 80 years. There are growing numbers of reported injuries and devastation.
Mercy Corps already has dedicated team members on the ground and we are verifying their safety. As we better understand the immediate needs of survivors, we will respond as appropriate.
We are focused on delivering rapid, lifesaving aid to hard-hit communities and have responded to almost every global emergency in the past 20 years, including Philippines typhoon (2013), the Japan earthquake and tsunami (2011), Horn of Africa drought and hunger crisis (2010) and Kashmir earthquake (2005). Mercy Corps was also one of the first responders to the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 and the Haiti earthquake in 2010.
Our thoughts are with the people of Nepal and all those affected in the region, where we have worked for the past nine years.