Story

On 25 April 2015 a 7.8-magnitude quake hit Kathmandu, the Capital of Nepal and its surrounding areas, killing more than 8,000 people. This was followed by some 120 aftershocks. On 12 May 2015 - a second major earthquake of magnitude 7.3, hit eastern Nepal, near Mount Everest. More than 100 people were killed and thousands more injured Among the worst-hit districts was Sindhupalchok, where more than 2,000 died, and Kathmandu, where more than 1,000 perished Many of the country's historic sites were severely damaged, including temples and monuments. At least four out of seven UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Kathmandu valley were badly affected. Over a year after the earthquake and Nepal is still a country of tarpaulins, tents and tin-roofed shacks. The streets have been cleared of rubble and the most obviously unstable structures have been brought down, but that is where the so-called "reconstruction effort" stopped. Virtually none of the 800,000 buildings it is reckoned the quake destroyed have been rebuilt. The lack of progress is most stark in the countryside where whole villages are still shattered and broken. According to the Red Cross, four million people are still living in sub-standard temporary shelters. The victims of the earthquake have received some small payments from the government - for hardship and compensation for the loss of relatives - but it promised it would also give every family that has lost a home $2,000 (£1,390) towards the cost of rebuilding. Most of that money has not been paid. In November 2016 a group of us are travelling to Nepal to visit some of the worst affected areas and to get a new vision for the country and people of Nepal. Please consider giving what you can to help make this possible. Thank you.