EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, is travelling to Nepal today following the devastating earthquake that hit the country on 25 April. He is traveling together with the United Nations Under-Secretary-General Valerie Amos, responsible for the international coordination of the humanitarian response.

"European experts, assets and funds are already making a difference in the crucial early days of the response. I will assess the situation on the ground and determine how Europe can best continue to help in this hour of need. I will also express the solidarity of the people and the institutions of Europe with the Nepalese people and their government: a solidarity they need so badly at this time," said Commissioner Stylianides.

According to European Commission  press release, The EU crisis management chief will join humanitarian aid and civil protection experts from the European Union who are deployed to Nepal to assess the needs and coordinate with international partners.

The visit comes after the urgent mobilisation of funding (€3 million) from the European Commission and first response teams and assets from the Member States. So far, 16 countries have provided support to Nepal with EU coordination, via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

EU funding is helping meet the most urgent needs in the worst affected areas of Nepal: clean water, medicines, shelter and telecommunications. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism is activated and is facilitating the coordinated delivery of aid from Member States. Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Spain and the United Kingdom, as well as Norway, are participating in this joint effort so far.

The Commission has sent humanitarian and civil protection experts to the disaster areas who coordinate the response on the ground.