Noordbeemster 25 May, 2015.
Dear Nepalfriends, Namaste,
Most of the international rescue
teams went home after the last few survivors were found among the
rubble. Help was limited to the
easy-access areas but the remote
mountain villages waited too long for help.
Communication with the mountain
regions was not really possible. Telephone connections were broken
and the valleys are full of landslides.
Tendy Sherpa has taken appropriate
action immediately. The DRC building was saved from destruction and
the help in Keraunja was better coordinated.
Keraunja Ganesh Himal
Our helpers Thiren Rai and Tamang
Mingmar went to Keraunja after the disaster and they arrived at the
same time as a team of United Mission
who dropped food by helicopter.
The health post manager Chandra Bahadur received medicine supplies.
A
doctor was also working in the area and he also visited the
surrounding villages Kasigaon, Rhumchet and Uhiya.
After the earthquake, there were
"only" 12 deaths of an estimated 2500 inhabitants. There
were virtually no injuries; most people
were working in the fields as
they are all farmers.
The
village was almost wiped off the map, only the school is reasonably
intact, the damage is large (picture L)
A
woman gathers wood, while a helicopter lands with supplies. On the
right you will see health post manager Chandra Bahadur.
Our Sherpa
and Tamang Mingmar are unloading relief supplies.
A boy is happy to brings a relief package to his destroyed home.
Thiren
Rai and Tamang Mingmar are setting up an emergency health post made
of tarpaulins to serve as an emergency shelter for the victims.
At
the time of this writing, 6000 kg rice of Iceland Trekking and 12000
kilos of the Government were sent to Keraunja. The valley of the Buri Gandaki
is
full of landslides and the army has been deployed to fix the trails
for help overland.
Thiren and Mingmar together with a
small group took a different route to Keraunja, high above the river,
which was a heavy route for the porters.
The entire population of
Keraunja helps with transport of emergency goods from Gorkha.
The
original Healthpost
After the earthquake, a total rebuild will be needed.
Thiren with Chandra Bahadur, it is
very sad how badly these people are affected!
How to proceed
First, we monitor if there are
short-term needs, such as adequate food and tarpaulins.
Thiren regularly goes to Keraunja to
discuss this with the village heads Khem Bahadur and Chandra Bahadur.
Several villages in the area such as
Gumda and Barpak will, most likely, not be rebuilt.
The Keraunja people we will stay!
About 2500 people live in the village and it would be a disaster if
they have to relocate.
The following facilities will have to
be rebuilt or repaired:
.
In
short, the DRC building has been rescued and it is expected that when
there is another heavy earthquake, the building will survive.
When
this will happen remains a big question. Eighty years have passed
between two heavy earthquakes, what the future holds is uncertain.
Yet
the survival of DRC in its current form is difficult. Every year the
children go door to door to collect money.
They
collect somewhere between 11000 and 12000. Most houses in the
neighborhoods surrounding DRC are severely damaged
and often there is
no more front door to collect!
Every
year we donate approximately 10000 to the cost of DRC and cannot
afford more with the current sponsors.
After a few months we will see
how to proceed. All this depends on several factors, such as the
increase in the sponsoring .
An idea is to adopt a child financially.
Our
Sherpas need help!
Thiren
Mingmar and the Austrian Rudi Mayr are going to Okhaldunga, Bhandar
and Garaimudi, where our Sherpas live.
All
the houses have been destroyed, the 2nd earthquake on May 12 gave the
final blow.
Their houses are located near the epicenter of the second
earthquake. The Gompa of Bhandar is no longer.
As
emergency aid we donated 1650 for tarpaulins and food.
As
soon as we have more news, we will let you know.
All
good sponsors we say once again, many thanks.
Sincerely,
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Rob K๖lber
0299 690460
