Brussels, 27/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - “Deeply saddened” at the very heavy death toll, and material and cultural cost of the powerful earthquake that devastated Nepal and India on Saturday 25 April, the European Union has expressed its solidarity with the families of the victims and is mobilising to help the survivors of this disaster, which is now an international emergency.
On Sunday 26 April, the European Commission mobilised €3 million in emergency humanitarian aid. The magnitude of the earthquake was 7.9 and according to the latest estimates has reportedly claimed over 3,615 lives and left 6,515 injured. This initial assistance, which is financed by the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department (ECHO), will help cover the most urgent needs of the disaster-stricken people - the supply of water, medicine, shelter and telecommunications - in the most affected regions. The Commission has also rushed humanitarian aid experts to the ground to help the humanitarian organisations.
In addition, the EU's civil protection mechanism has been activated. Germany, Belgium, Finland, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden immediately offered search and rescue teams, water purification systems and technical assistance. Other member states have also stated their readiness to help.
“A total of 14 member states have offered to send out equipment to reach the people in need as quickly as possible”, said Catherine Ray, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini on Monday 27 April. “A coordination meeting is under way with the member states, the Commission and other humanitarian partners to coordinate the emergency and post-emergency response”, Ray added.
On behalf of the EU, Mogherini, European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica and European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides together offered their condolences to the Nepalese and Indian peoples and to all the families affected by this tragedy. “This is a humanitarian emergency which calls for coordinated rescue efforts at international level, which the EU is ready to support”, they said.
“I have mobilised all our means for emergency response to help the survivors and authorities in the aftermath of this tragedy. What is needed most are medical teams and relief supplies”, Stylianides said, calling on “all EU member states to join the coordinated European response”.
The Commission's Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) is responsible for channelling the aid and is following the situation closely. It is in close contact with the authorities of Nepal and with the 31 countries participating in the EU civil protection mechanism (the 28 EU member states, plus FYROM, Iceland and Norway). (Aminata Niang)