Nepal
Catholic Relief Services supports fair trade cooperative Mahaguthi: Crafts with a Conscience through a partnership with fair trade umbrella organization SERRV. Photo by Jennifer Hardy/CRS.
One of the poorest countries in the world, nearly half of Nepal's population lives below the poverty line. Over 10 years of conflict cost many Nepalese their lives and battered the Himalayan kingdom's already weak economy. In addition, each year Nepal experiences multiple natural disasters such as monsoon floods, landslides, fires and drought. Most parts of the country are also seismically active. Catholic Relief Services focuses primarily on supporting Caritas Nepal in emergency aid to families affected by disasters.
Stats
| Population: | 28,563,377 (July 2009 est.) |
| Size: | 56,136 sq mi; about the size and shape of Tennessee |
| People Served: | 333,750 (2011 est.) |
History
Given the magnitude of natural disasters affecting Nepal each year, CRS began supporting Caritas Nepal in their emergency response efforts. In 2005, CRS broadened its scope to include projects in counter-trafficking and civic education.
Partners
Caritas Nepal is the social arm of the Catholic Church in Nepal providing support to marginalized and vulnerable communities. Caritas Nepal focuses its projects in the areas of disaster preparedness, response and rehabilitation. CRS also works towards providing food security, reducing poverty, promoting peacebuilding, supporting women and children's rights, offering Bhutanese refugee children's education and empowering grassroots movements.
