Nepal, April 30 -- Last week marked the tenth anniversary of the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked the country in 2015. There was massive loss of lives, homes, public infrastructure and heritage sites. Our resilience was tested and it took us years to rebuild and recover. The disaster taught us many lessons, primarily about preparedness, planning, emergency response, and policy reform. The country immediately turned its focus to updating building codes, retrofitting buildings, constructing earthquake-resistant structures, and spreading awareness. However, the initial momentum dissipated with time.

Eight years after the 2015 earthquake, our negligence became all too apparent when a 6.4 magnitude quake struck the remote Jaja...