About Nepal Situated between the densely populated countries of China and India, Nepal constitutes a longish strip of land running from east to west between the Gangetic plain in the south and the Himalaya region in the north. Nepal can be divided into three geographic regions: the high mountains, the hills (central hill region between 400 - 3,000 m) and the flat plain, known as Terai. The high mountain region of the Himalayas boasts the 13 highest mountains in the world, including Mount Everest. In the populated areas, the climate reaches from sub-tropical right down to freezing point depending on the time of year. Although the official language is Nepali, there are more than 60 different ethnic groups and races with around 50 different languages. English is spoken as the second language in the cities, by the authorities and by the educated social classes. Effective action and help for the children! Nepal is in a difficult and unstable political situation. As a result of bloody disputes between government groups of the Hindu kingdom and leftist Maoist rebels, it is estimated that 10,000 people have met a violent death since 1996. In addition, there are recurring nationwide strikes that bring public life and the economy to a standstill. Nepal's economy is almost entirely dependent on agriculture. More than 80 percent of the approx. 24 million inhabitants earn their living in this sector. The development of the fledgling tourist industry has been regularly dogged by uprisings and strike action. The provision of basic social welfare for the population is completely unsatisfactory due to a barely existent nationwide infrastructure and an inadequate state support system, a problem that particularly affects women and children.