Photo submitted by Nicole Dawes

Mennonite Central Committee (M.C.C.) was quick in its response to the aftermath of Saturday's earthquake in Nepal.  Brad Reimer is the Communications & Donor Relations Director with M.C.C., Manitoba.  Reimer says they're currently trying to discern what the most immediate needs are, as well as what their long-term response will be.

"Our response to the tsunami in Indonesia, and in Haiti, those were five year responses," noted Reimer.  "So we'll be working towards what it will look like in Nepal, not only to help rebuild and restructure, but to make it better into the future."

Reimer says disaster response is part of the programming they have in Nepal, because it's susceptible to things like flooding and earthquakes.  "But also agriculture, nutrition, livelihoods, education, health, and peace building, all of those things have been worked at by M.C.C. in Nepal, and when a disaster like this strikes, everybody joins together and tries to do the best they can," said Reimer.

M.C.C. has had an active presence in Nepal since the 1950's, and in fact has an office in Katmandu.  He says all of their staff in Nepal are safe and accounted for.

 

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A Disaster Response Team meeting will be held, and Reimer says they will be in conversation with their partners and country reps in Nepal.  He says they will get as much information out to their churches and supporters.

Reimer says as they are still determining their course of action, immediately donations are fundamental.