This disaster risk reduction situation report explains the drivers of disaster risks in Nepal and draws attention to the efforts that have been undertaken to reduce these risks. A key overview of the background of historical disasters, the calculated risks and the on‐going work on disaster risk reduction in Nepal are summarized in a previous Preventionweb DRR situation report for Nepal: http://preventionweb.net/go/44170
1. Drivers of Disaster Risks in Nepal
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Nepal on April 25 and caused massive destruction. The main quake was followed by numerous aftershocks of magnitude 5 or higher causing further damage and losses. At the moment, there is little information about the factors that contributed to the growth of disaster risks in Nepal. Disaster risk, which is the likelihood of the loss of life, injury or destruction and damage from a disaster in a given period of time, is influenced by the hazard itself, the exposure of people, property and livelihoods to these hazards, and their susceptibility to the damaging effects of hazards. Changes in any of these components will either increase or decrease the risks, and when a disaster strikes they will determine the size of its impacts. This DRR situation report covers the hazard, exposure and vulnerability that combined to make the earthquake in Nepal so deadly.