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The UN is supporting the government of Nepal in coordinating international search and rescue operations and is preparing to mount a major relief effort, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said Saturday following a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the country.
The United Nations Secretary-General sent his condolences to Nepal's government and to everyone affected by the earthquake.
"The reports of the devastation are still coming in and the numbers of people killed, injured and affected by this earthquake continue to rise," Ban said.
At least 1,344 people were killed and 4,423 others were injured in different parts of the country according to figures released by Nepali police, with the death toll likely to rise in the coming hours.
The worst hit region has been the Kathmandu Valley, where at least 630 people have been found dead and figures are expected to rise as victims are dug out from under collapsed buildings.
There have been 18 aftershocks, all above 4.2-magnitude, since the original earthquake, causing further panic.
The earthquake struck 80 kilometers northwest of the capital Kathmandu, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, but the tremors were felt as far away as New Delhi, Dhaka and Pakistan's Punjab region.
"On behalf of the United Nations, I thank the first responders in all the affected countries who are working around the clock to save lives," Ban said.
Meanwhile, UNICEF said in a statement that it is mobilizing an urgent operation to meet the needs of children affected by the earthquake.
The agency said that with children accounting for half of the country's population, it fears the disaster will have a severe impact on them.
UNICEF said it prepositioned supplies, including water purification tablets, hygiene kits, tarpaulins and nutrition supplies, and is working with the government and other partners to meet children's immediate needs in the areas of water and sanitation, child protection, health and nutrition.
www.aa.com.tr/en - Ankara
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