The earthquake that hit Ecuador last night measured 7.8 on the Richter scale, making it the most severe quake in several decades. The numbers of dead and injured are high, and while we are working to clarify the situation, we do not yet have an overview of the scope.

Norway, along with several other countries, has been asked to contribute experts to a response assignment through the EU’s coordinating mechanism for civil protection and emergency response. We already support the UN’s central emergency response fund (Cerf) and the Red Cross federation’s emergency relief fund (Dref), for the specific purpose of enabling them to respond rapidly to disasters like the earthquake in Ecuador.

“Norway stands ready to help, should such a request be made,” says the Minister.