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Nepal

Responding after massive Nepal earthquake

Mercy Corps is preparing an emergency response 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 more than 1,500 people have died in the worst earthquake to hit the region in 80 years. It's estimated that 4.6 million people in the region were exposed to tremors, stretching all the way to neighboring Tibet and India.

Reports of injuries and devastation continue to rise, and we are concerned that the loss of life and livelihoods could be very significant in this fragile country where almost a third of the population lives in poverty.

Mercy Corps' dedicated team members on the ground are safe and already working to better understand the conditions so we can respond quickly. Survivors will need food, water and temporary shelter in the aftermath of this disaster.

"As we better understand the needs on the ground, we will deploy our teams to where they'll have the greatest impact," says Mercy Corps CEO Neal Keny-Guyer.

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.

Communities need immediate support to get back on their feet: rebuilding homes and schools, returning to work and processing the trauma.

"From experience we know that as we rush to meet humanitarian needs, it's critical we keep an eye on longer term rebuilding and recovery," says Keny-Guyer. "We are there to help connect the survivors of this earthquake to the resources they need."

How you can help

  • Donate to our earthquake response: Your emergency gift will go directly to helping people in Nepal survive today and begin rebuilding their lives in the months to come. Give now ▸

  • Fundraise for survivors: Our team is able to quickly respond to natural disasters because of supporters like you — and the more people who come together to help, the more people we can reach. Spread the word to your family and friends: Start a fundraising page for Nepal ▸