The chracters recent ancestry and current nation of residence are the same. Howeverm the character has strong ethnic ties to and takes great pride in his more distant ancestors country of origin.
Your people are past the peak of their prime. Social & economical decay has begun to set in. The government seems to have become self-perpetuating and careless to the people's needs. Previously common civil liberties and services are disappearing.
Destitute: These people are considered the dregs of society. They own no property, and may have no fixed home. Some perform no real work and are often unemployable. Others are in bond to a master and live at his whim.
The home town where the character lives is destroyed, there is little loss of life. However, after the disaster passes, the area is rebuilt and becomes more prosperous than ever before. (work with your DM to determine details)