Media
Nepal: The Quake and the Constitution
Two months have passed since Nepal was rocked by a series of devastating earthquakes. The tremors continue, but it appears that the earth is finally settling and some respite may be had – for a short while at least, until the monsoon rains bring their annual havoc of landslides and floods, which are certain to be far w [...]
Los Angeles Times Features George Varughese Insights on Nepal’s Disaster Preparedness
The Los Angeles Times interviews The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative in Nepal George Varughese on the government response to the devastating earthquake: “The people’s skepticism is not just based on the first few days’ performance. It’s based on a track record of incapability and underperformance.” Read more: [...]
In Quake’s Wake, the Price of Political Disarray
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal on Saturday morning, April 25, and the 6.5 aftershock the following day, left frightened residents here in Kathmandu huddled in the rain in streets blocked with rubble and shaken by powerful tremors that made those structures still standing too dangerous to enter. Deaths a [...]
Reuters: George Varughese on Nepal’s Political Instability and Disaster Preparedness
Reuters interviews The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative in Nepal George Varughese on government response to the devastating earthquake: “years of political instability had distracted the administration and left it under-prepared to deal with humanitarian crises in the disaster-prone country.” Read more: “Nepali [...]
Deutsche Welle Speaks to George Varughese on the Devastating Nepal Earthquake
Deutsche Welle interviews The Asia Foundation’s Country Representative in Nepal George Varughese, who witnessed the powerful and devestating Nepal earthquake in the capital city of Kathmandu. Read more: “‘Fear and shock’ in Nepal following massive earthquake.” [...]
The Stubborn Persistence of Gender Inequality
Despite the swelling mantra of women’s empowerment, and the proliferation of gender-sensitive approaches in aid program descriptions, the snail-like advancement of women in developing countries continues to indict our best efforts. Microfinance programs, reserved seats for women in parliament, and a raft of development [...]