![NPMandala5](https://www.mcgill.ca/trauma-globalhealth/files/trauma-globalhealth/images/NPMandala5.jpg)
Home to over 27 million people, the landlocked State of Nepal lies between China and India and boasts the world’s highest peak. But in recent years, Nepal's political terrain has been as jagged as its natural landscape, with a decade of civil war claiming 13,000 lives and displacing thousands more. While the conflict that saw government forces clash with Maoist insurgents ended with a ceasefire in 2006, political tensions continue to threaten the health and security of the population. In addition to the traumatic experiences caused by civil conflict, the region is also prone to severe thunderstorms, flooding, and landslides during the monsoon season.