Friday, May 1, 2015

Tragic effects on Mirge from the recent earthquake.

It is with deep sorrow and grief that I write this Blog as the emotions well-up far too easily because my relationship with this community is both personal and professional, and on both levels this disaster has had a massive impact.My thoughts are constantly with all the community, who have become both family and friends, and the difficulties that they are facing now and will continue to face in the future until security can be returned and normality is restored.

In regard to Mirge I have mixed news and feelings. Firstly, the village suffered, as far as I know at this moment, only one fatality. However, the village infrastructure has apparently suffered extensive damage.

I last made contact with Phulkaji last Sunday, 26th April, a day after the quake, and he reported that most of the houses have been seriously damaged or destroyed, except thankfully for our new house. At that stage, he only knew that MLSS was still standing but suffered damage to the walls (cracked). He had no news of the other 6 schools. I fear the worst.

I have had updates from other members of the family in Kathmandu who have had a some contact with Phulkaji and have reported that the villagers are still okay even though they have been sleeping outside under plastic. I spoke with Mohan in Kathmandu yesterday and he explained that there is still no electricity nor reliable telephone contact but I understand that they have basic food supplies. To date, no relief assistance had arrived so with the rising concern and feelings of helplessness of those in Kathmandu, Mohan and 3 other  have travelled back to the village by motorbike. I have not heard from them yet, and I expect not to, until mobile phone communications can be restored. I nervously await news.

Though to some degree my grief and thoughts are very localised, the overall impact of this disaster across 39 districts cannot be forgotten and felt deeply. For example, a friend had established a Health Centre in the remote Langtang Village and was having success after success. Tragically, that valley has now been entirely destroyed by landslides - nothing is left!

May I urge you to rally as many friends and colleagues to support the relief process conducted by the international community and at the same time give thought to the massive task ahead of rebuilding, Mirge in particular as much as the rest of Nepal. I am not sure what to do next, but I am sure that funds will be needed to assist families to rebuild homes, replace livestock killed and the community collectively rebuild / repair buildings. I have not taken any action on this matter as yet as much has to be taken in stock and work with other NGOs and benefactors along with the community. However, maybe we could start to think about putting away some funds in preparation of the action that might be taken. Presently, the funds that some of you donate on a monthly basis, will continue to support the work of ECCA who will continue to support the recovery process on a local level.

Now I want to finish on a very positive note. Despite the obvious impacts of the destruction, I am confident that the health of the community throughout the recovery will be reasonably good because of the work that ECCA has done to educate the villagers about sanitation and water quality. I want to report that in 2010 when we started our program, the number of toilets was zero and no-one knew why they became sick! NOW, 80% of the houses have bio-gas toilets and all the community know that the source of their repeated illness is the water. Households now use WATASOL purification or boil their drinking water. However, monsoon is only 3 months away and this will present new challenges.

Let us join together to support the relief actions and start to plan how we can help in the future. Thank you again for your continuous support.