On April 25th, Nepal was hit with a violent earthquake, which measured a massive 7.8 magnitude, and struck just outside of Lamjung. The earthquake has caused extreme devastation, destroying many homes and causing irreversible damage to many landmarks in the cities within its range. The death toll, as of publication, is approximated at 6,100, though according to the Nepali Prime Minister, Sushil Koirala, the number could easily rise above 10,000, as the bodies of more missing persons are discovered, and more of the approximately 11,700 injured die. The exact scope of the damage is still in question, as the number one priority is helping the injured and those who lost their homes.
Nepal is one of the poorest countries in Asia, and with nearly half a million people who lost their homes, and the massive amounts of property damage, recovery will not be easy. The country requires immediate help, to aid the injured and help create temporary shelter and provide food for the now homeless. The longer road to recovery is grim, with Nepal likely needing significant financial help to put things back in order in a reasonable amount of time. Currently, the US has given Nepal 3 Million USD to aid in immediate relief, and is willing to give up 200 million USD to help for future rehabilitation. According to Rajiv Biswas, an Asia-Pacific economist, it could easily take up to 5 billion USD for full recovery. Many countries have also given Nepal money to help speed up recovery. Nepal is in dire need of charitable donations to help recover and stabilize in the wake of this disaster, and the best thing you can currently do to help is seek out one of the many charities helping the recovery of Nepal, like “Save the Children” or the Red Cross’s Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund.