A powerful 7.9-magnitude earthquake has left nearly 700 dead in Nepal. The teams of Action Against Hunger, present in the country since 2011, are mobilizing to assess the immediate needs of the affected populations.
“Aftershocks are still being felt and movements in the city of Kathmandu remain difficult. Most communication lines were cut following the earthquake, “says Shashwat Saraf, Regional Director of Action Against Hunger operations in Asia. The epicenter is in Lamjung district, west of Kathmandu. The tremors were felt in northern India and to Bangladesh. Buildings were damaged as well in Pokhara to Kathmandu, and nearly 700 deaths were already reported. Action Against Hunger teams on site are now visiting the affected areas to assess the extent of damage and needs. A humanitarian response is envisaged to help those affected by the disaster.
Since 2011, Action Against Hunger has operated in Saptari district in the east of the country, one of the most affected by undernutrition. In Nepal, 400,000 children are acutely malnourished. The country has one of the highest malnutrition rates in the world.
