After the quake
Nepal’s catastrophic earthquakes in late April this year left a trail of destruction and death, but three months after the tragedy, the spirit of the survivors remains resilient in the face of adversity.
Close to 9,000 people died in the 7.8-magnitude quake, numerous Unesco World Heritage Sites were damaged across the country and countless homes made of mud and brinks were flattened, leaving thousands homeless and destitute.
After our recent visit, during which we met a number of local NGOs, it seems that Nepal is on the road to recovery. Large temporary shelter settlements, coupled with the sight of homes undergoing renovation and post-quake heritage conservation projects, are probably the only reminders of the fateful Saturday afternoon that changed the course of life for most people in Nepal.
Otherwise, little has changed. Residents can be seen going about their daily chores. Monsoon rains have started, coupled with a lack of sanitation, and it has only made matters worse for people who survived the quake.
Nepal, whose economy depends largely on foreign visitors, is reeling through one of its driest high tourism seasons since graphic images were carried on global media channels of the devastation the quake left behind.
“In the first two months, tourists were fearful to come because of how the media portrayed Nepal as an unsafe destination,” said Nepali tour guide Raju Shakya. “As you can see, there were areas in Kathmandu and surrounding towns that were not affected.
“Since the beginning of August, visitors have begun to come. Travel agents and media trips are being arranged to encourage travel to Nepal, which is popular for Buddhist pilgrimage tours and also some trekking among Thai tourists. The best way to help Nepal is to visit our country.”
Raju said the Nepali people were able to bounce back into their daily routines quickly because everyone was united and helped each other during the most trying moments.
“Our tourism and economy is a shambles, but the fight to survive for the next generation has helped us to keep our chins up,” said the tour guide, who speaks German and English.
Nepal is getting back on its feet after April’s devastating earthquakes, but the relief effort remains a huge challenge
Luna Shrestha Thakur of ChangeFusion Nepal, a non-profit organisation which promotes social entrepreneurship, said countless social entrepreneurs were in jeopardy with little hope of revival and sustainability. With support from Thailand and other countries, they have managed to address the need for temporary shelters in a number of villages, including Bhattedanda, where 100 households were severely affected.
“Realistically speaking, we cannot expect donors to support us in building permanent homes which can cost a staggering $US5,000 (176,400 baht),” said Luna. “If possible, I would like to request Thailand help us in exchange for know-how in social entrepreneurship. This would enable us to improve our work, to make it more marketable.
“Another plan is to have our handicraft products sold online. Tourists are scared to visit Nepal at the moment, so in this way we can continue to generate much-needed revenue for the thousands of women that have lost their incomes because their products haven’t been sold since the quake hit.”
On the streets of Kathmandu’s Durbar Square, we bumped into Laxminarain Shiriprakesh carrying a huge Nepali flag. He smiled and waved to bystanders, as a handful of people took his photo.
“I carry my flag to show unity among the Nepali people,” said the retired government worker. “I volunteer to do this to show that Nepali people have big hearts. Sadly, we have a corrupt government that has done little to bring Nepal out of poverty, that is why everyone looks at us as poor people.
“The quake has made us realise the need to to be more united and not just think of ourselves. I would like to thank each country that has helped us in the last three months to stand on our feet again. I would like to encourage tourists to visit Kathmandu, and other parts of the country which are still safe to travel in.”