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Nepal Earthquake 2015

Rebuilding schools, houses and lives

Situation Overview

In April 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 hit the region in more than 80 years. More than 9,000 people died, and 2.8 million were displaced. In all, more than 8 million people were affected by the disaster. 

Families today are still struggling to rebuild their lives. Fuel shortages, political issues and poor roads make it very challenging for families to get the supplies they need, particularly in remote areas. Many families are still living in tents, and a large number of children are not going to school.  

Our Role: Rapid Response

SOS Children's Villages has worked in Nepal since 1972.  With programs in 10 locations, we were able to respond quickly to the needs of children in the immediate aftermath of the April 2015 earthquake.

Program Overview

We welcomed 53 children orphaned by the earthquake into SOS families in some of our 10 SOS villages in Nepal. In these cases, the children had no relatives able to care for them. They joined the 1,238 children currently growing up in an SOS village in Nepal.  

 

Our kinship care program supports relatives of children orphaned by the earthquake – such as grandparents – who are now raising the children. We are also helping 225 new families with income-generating activities, such as sewing and poultry farming. In addition, we are providing hundreds of families with material assistance such as blankets, mattresses and financial support. 

After the earthquake, we set up 25 SOS Childcare Centers, where we provide children with informal education, recreational activities, food and other services. At the centers, children who have suffered psychological trauma are provided with counseling and support by trained professionals. Furthermore, the parents of these children have a free and safe place to send their children during the day while they go out and earn money to support their families.  

 

Getting children back into school after a natural disaster provides a comforting daily routine. We have helped rebuild three public schools so far, with another seven schools on the way. We have also provided essential school supplies to more than 3,000 students. 

Three years after the earthquake, we continue to support children and families impacted by the disaster – rebuilding schools and homes, and ensuring that hundreds of parentless children grow up in a supportive family environment. 

Thanks to generous people like you, we have been able to change the lives of tens of thousands of vulnerable children and families in Nepal. Help us continue this important work. 

Take Action

Communities have reinvented themselves, regained their former strength through support by people like you. Let's help children in crisis and continue to rebuild lives together!

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