Loss of houses and cattle add to misery of expat families

NEPAL AMBASSADOR APPEALS TO DONORS TO REMIT MONEY DIRECTLY TO PM’S FUND

Although many expatriates from Nepal were relieved to hear that their family members have survived the massive earthquake, they were distressed about the bleak future that their families face due to the collapse of houses, and the loss of crops and cattle in rural areas.

“Apart from destruction of houses, many rural families including mine have suddenly left without any source of income due to loss of crops and cattle,” said Mister Babu, 29, a taxi driver in Abu Dhabi. His house in a village in Gorkha district, around 140 kilometres away from Kathmandu, has been destroyed. “We lost all of our cows and buffaloes.”

Dhiraj Sunar, 25, a merchant agent from Butwal district, which is around 250 kilometres from Kathmandu, also said losses of cattle and crops have become a double jeopardy to the villagers. “Milk from cows and buffaloes give the villagers daily income,” he said.

A.K Navin, 30, a housekeeper from Nawalparasi district that is around 140 kilometres from Kathmandu, said rebuilding houses without a regular source of income will be a Herculean task for rural families.

K.C Gopal, 28, a security guard from Bhaktapur, around 40 kilometres from Kathmandu, said most of the families have been sleeping outdoors since Saturday night, fearing aftershocks.

Meanwhile many expatriates have gone back to Nepal to assist their families in rebuilding their houses.

Dhananjay Jha, the Nepalese Ambassador to the UAE, told Gulf

News yesterday that some employers asked their Nepalese employees to produce a letter from the embassy to support their leave application on the ground of destruction of their houses. He said offers to help were pouring in at the embassy. The envoy appealed to the donors to send cash directly to the Nepalese Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund. Those who are unable to do so can deposit the cash at the embassy, which will issue a receipt, he said.

AP Public duty Soldiers carry an injured man to a waiting Indian Air Force helicopter from Trishuli Bazar to Kathmandu.

Ahmed Kutty/Gulf News Donations pour in Nepal expats donate at a charity box for quake victims at the Nepal Embassy in Abu Dhabi. Many expats have gone back to Nepal to assist their families in rebuilding their houses.

AP Charging station People charge cellphones in an open area in Kathmandu. Shelter, fuel, food, medicine, power are all in short supply.

AP Troubled brow A man and his child wait for an ambulance after being evacuated at the airport in Kathmandu.

Reuters Nowhere to go People wait outside the airport departure terminal in Kathmandu before moving to safer areas.