THE SITUATION IN BRIEF
What You Need to Know
On April 25, 2015, a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, destroying much of the city and many surrounding villages. It was the worst earthquake to strike the region in more than 80 years. More than 8,600 people died, 2.8 million were displaced, and in all, more than 8 million people were affected by the disaster.
Another challenge is the widespread poverty in the country. Even before the earthquake, Nepal was one of the poorest countries in Asia. More than 1 in 4 families were living in poverty, according to the World Bank.