NEPAL & THE EARTHQUAKE
NEPAL & THE EARTHQUAKE
Its been one year since a huge earthquake (7,8 Richter scale) shaked Nepal. All the country was affected in one way or another. The lucky ones – areas in the west and south, around Pokhara, Chitwan, Bardia and Annapurna – because tourism, as one of the biggest sources of income in this former kingdom, is still scarce. The ones that were not that lucky, mainly in East Nepal, lost everything. Thousands of them, their lives.
I visited one of the most affected areas 4 months after the earthquake, I spent one week near the Tibetan-Nepali border.
I already had the best of the opinions regarding Nepali people. They are kind, respectful, good humored, smart, hard workers and balanced people.
But what blew out my mind is when i experienced the resilience and acceptance of those who were seriously affected by the earthquake. Nearly 80% of the structures around this area collapsed –Houses, water channeling, electricity supply, schools, roads, paths-. Now they leave in provisional shaks. Almost every family lost a relative. The biggest catastrophe in Mount Everest history was caused by an avalanche during the earthquake. Even now, in a very mountainous country, where local people walk daily long distances to carry goods, landslides are still a threat.
NEPALIS need a lot of help. Birth and children mortality is still very high.
In the last three pictures, you can see a temporary rural medical centre. Supported mainly by foreign donations, assist and teach local people. They do not only heal basic deseases. They educate, so mothers realize that colds and intestinal infections, the ones that cause higher mortality among children, are better treated by antibiotics than by “traditional medicine”. They spread the word…
DESPITE THE UNDENIABLE FOREIGN ASSISTANCE, THIS PEOPLE STILL NEED A HUGE AMOUNT OF HELP. BETTER CHANNELED DIRECTLY THROUGH LOCAL NGOS, AS THE GOVERNMENT, «NOT EFFICIENT» AND IN SOME CASES CORRUPTED, OBSTRUCTS FOREIGN NGO ASSISTANCE.
I felt in love with this country. There are still places on earth capable of healing your soul.
