What does Nehemiah 1:3 mean?

They told me, 'The people who made it back to Jerusalem are in real trouble. They're struggling and feeling ashamed. The city walls are broken down, and the gates have been burned to the ground.' Nehemiah 1:3 - Modern Text Bible

(Nehemiah hears that the people in Jerusalem are suffering, and the city is still in ruins. This news hits him hard because it means his people are vulnerable and their home is still a mess.)