Nepal Earthquake's Aftermath

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on April 25th, 2015, shaking the already-impoverished nation to its core, killing over 8,000 people, injuring approximately 18,000 and destroying hundreds of thousands of homes and historical monuments. Subsequent aftershocks, including a 7.3 magnitude tremor on May 12th, have continued to rattle the country and have exacerbated damage to buildings and temples, caused more deaths and injuries and contributed to rampant trauma amongst the population. With the monsoon set to begin in mid-June, concerns abound regarding the living situation of the approximately 2.8 million people made homeless by the earthquake and presently living under makeshift camps and depending on aid to survive. With Nepal home to significant and pre-existing problems related poverty, malnutrition, lack of access to potable water, gender-based discrimination, trafficking, and others, the impact of the earthquake will be felt for years to come, as the country tries to rebuild and move past this disaster.