Giving Compass' Take:

• This Give2Asia post revisits the tragedy in Nepal when a major earthquake struck in 2015 and what it's taught us about disaster preparedness.

• Among the components of disaster resilience strategy are better data collection and community engagement, which should give funders a framework on where to strategically place resources.

• For more on how to make an impact in disaster relief and recovery, click here.

April 25th, 2015 was a dark day for the people of Nepal. Over 3 million people were rendered homeless, 22,000 were injured, and at least 9,000 were killed in what was one of the deadliest earthquakes to have struck the country. Measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, the earthquake struck about 40 miles away from the capital city, Kathmandu, wrecking entire communities. Along with people's’ livelihoods, Nepal’s cultural sites were also destroyed.

Years later, communities are still recuperating from the aftermath of this devastating tragedy. Why is it taking this long for the people of Nepal to get back on their feet? The answer is simple. The road to long-term recovery, much like it sounds, is a lengthy process.

While each disaster is unique, there are some common lessons to be learned. Working towards rebuilding communities across Nepal has shed light on how best to deal with both recovering from a disaster and preparing for one:

  • Early Warning Systems
  • Building Back Better
  • Data Collection/Access to Information
  • Local Community Involvement
  • Coordination
  • Immediate Versus Long-Term Relief

Read the full article about disaster recovery and preparation by Mansi Desai from Give2Asia.