The earthquake that struck north-western Nepal on the night of 3 November, with a magnitude of 5.6, was felt as far away as New Delhi (India), affecting many people who were already asleep in their homes. The latest toll is in the hundreds of dead and injured.

Nepal is one of the countries most prone to natural disasters and has a very poor population, as well as insufficient infrastructure to cope with floods or earthquakes.

The earthquake not only destroyed or damaged nearly 8,000 schools, leaving one million children without education but also flattened hundreds of monuments and royal palaces, including UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley.

The Pope also called on the international community to show solidarity with Nepal and the countries affected by the earthquake. He said, “It is time to act urgently to help the victims of this tragedy”.

The Vatican sent an initial financial assistance of $100,000 to help those affected by the earthquake. It also sent a delegation from the Holy See to help in the relief effort.

The Prime Minister of Nepal, Sushil Koirala, thanked the Pope for his words of comfort and gesture of support for the earthquake victims.