On Saturday, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal, leading to the death of almost 4,000 people and the injury of 7,000 others, including climbers on Mount Everest. Relief efforts are hindered by power blackouts, extremely difficult terrain and supply shortages, despite aid efforts from 16 nations and counting. Nepal is part of the massive Tibetan Plateau and contains eight of the ten tallest mountains in the world. The region is known for its dangerous terrain, which includes disasters such as avalanches and mudslides.
Areas most affected by the earthquake
For many in Nepal, this earthquake isn’t just a natural disaster. Many Nepalese are poor, meaning they are forced to live in older, less stable homes, which often house multiple families in tenement-like subdivisions. The earthquake is to blame for the destruction of thousands of these homes, leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless, with nowhere to go. A woman whose husband was paralyzed by falling masonry said in an interview with the Guardian said, “If we had had money we would have built a strong house. But we had none. There is no place to go. There is no one to look after us. Life was hard for us already. I don’t want to be alive”.
A young woman standing by the tent she is forced to live in after her house was damaged
Relief efforts are underway, but there is still a lot to be done. The Nepal Red Cross Society is providing first aid, search and rescue, blood to medical facilities, and first responder support. They are taking donations here, however their website connectivity is spotty and may or may not be working. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is also taking donations here.
Before and after the earthquake