(VOVworld) – Nepal is recovering from a strong earthquake last year. Although rebuilding will take more time and more money, morale is high.

Nepal’s government and people held ceremonies last week to commemorate those killed in the quake. Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli laid a wreath at the ancient Kathmandu tower, which collapsed in the quake. A commemorative ceremony was attended by many government officials and relatives of the victims.

On April 25, 2015, an earthquake measuring 8 on the Richter scale hit Nepal’s Lamjun district with an epicenter 15km below the ground. It was the strongest earthquake in Nepal in 8 decades. The earthquake caused avalanches from Mount Everest, destroying the northern part of Janaki Mandir Hindu Temple and Patan Durbar, 2 UNESCO-recognized world heritages. Approximately 900,000 houses collapsed, 9,000 people were killed and 22,000 were injured. Economic losses were estimated at 7 billion USD. According to the Nepalese government, it needs at least 2 billion USD to rebuild houses, schools, hospitals, and historical relic sites destroyed by the quake. Experts say it will take Nepal at least 2 more years to restore its damaged historical relic sites.

Approximately 4 million people are living in temporary shelters and financial difficulties have hindered restoration work. But people are optimistic. People near the quake’s epicenter have rebuilt their houses and a religious temple in the Barpark district with support provided by many international organizations. The International Committee of the Red Cross said it is ready to send experts to help the Nepalese with house-building and anti-seismic retrofitting until the end of 2017.  The United Nations has pledged continued support for people in affected areas.

The Nepalese government has begun restoration work at a number of cultural heritage sites. On April 26, Prime Minister Oli attended a ceremony to bless the reconstruction of Anantapur Temple in central Khathmandu. The temple received thousands of tourists every year before it was destroyed by the quake. Restoration has begun at 4 other important sites, including 2 halls where royal ceremonies often took place.