Nepal: Progress and Hope One Year Later

1 of 7

Following a devastating 7.8 earthquake in April 2015, people like Manga Maya Tamang received cash grants (10,000 Nepali rupees, roughly $100 USD) from the American Red Cross as well as an infant kit with blankets and warm clothes for winter.

2 of 7

Known for its potatoes, the village of Jhir Gari’s crops were destroyed, including the storage facility. Red Cross rebuilt one that can house up to 5 tons, with residents contributing labor, and Red Cross supplying materials, money, and expertise.

3 of 7

Khadga is training to become certified masons through a week-long Red Cross and Build Change course, so he can help his country rebuild. The training teaches participants how to build with locally available materials and in a safer, more resilient way.

4 of 7

The Junior Red Cross Club at Kalika Higher Secondary School learn first aid skills, which were used during the disaster. One member helped a little girl who was buried in the rubble and gave her first aid, saving her life.

5 of 7

Residents put the finishing touches on a 10,000-liter water tank for which Red Cross provided materials, supplies and expertise. The earthquake destroyed the village water source. Now water is clean, safe and easily accessible.

6 of 7

Gita Rumba and her 11-month son, Yursang, sit in front of their small shop in Namtar. Gita and her family received Red Cross relief items in the quake’s immediate aftermath and warm clothing for Yursang, including the jacket he’s wearing today.

7 of 7

Mothers in Nepal hold their infants in the Himalayan village of Champani, Nepal. The Red Cross delivered cash grants, emergency assistance, infant kits to to this village. The village also benefited from a new water tank after theirs was destroyed.

April 26, 2016

One year after a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake took nearly 9,000 lives and damaged or destroyed more than 800,000 homes, the American Red Cross continues to help the people of Nepal rebuild their lives. And while the road to recovery is still a long one, as evident in these photos, the earthquake ravaged villages of Nepal aren’t defined by destruction, but by hope. For more information, visit www.redcross.org/Nepal.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.