A temporary house stands strong surrounded by rubble in Pokhari, Nepal.
In April and May 2015 two earthquakes, both measuring over 7.5 in magnitude, stuck the mountainous country of Nepal. All We Can has been supporting partners working in this region for a number of years. Through trusted local partners, and international partners with emergency response expertise, All We Can is committed to supporting recovery in Nepal. Here we share some stories from the communities our partners are working with.
Temporary shelters in the village of Pokhari a few weeks after the first earthquake. June 2015. Image: All We Can/Nick Burn
Mangal Gurung’s story
The earthquake that devastated Nepal at the end of April destroyed Mangal Gurung’s home in Barpak. He had worked as a manual labourer for over five years in Qutar to save enough money to build the house. He met his brother near his village. They hugged each other and cried for a while. His brother, who lost a daughter in the earthquake, said that whole village was damaged and many were missing. Mangal could not stop crying when he knew his wife and children were safe. As he looked his village, he could not believe his eyes. He was trembling for a long time when he saw his house:
“It is devastating. What happened to my village is an absolute tragedy but pales in comparison to what happened all over the country…..the wide spread devastation and loss of life.”
All We Can’s partner Kopila Nepal supported people including Mangal after the April earthquake by providing basic supplies and temporary shelter.
Sapana Shrestha’s story
Sapana Shrestha, aged 26, lives in Chyangli, a village in the Gorkha District of northern-central Nepal.On the day of the 25 April earthquake, she recalls, “I was sitting in home doing some housework and my children were playing around me. Suddenly the land was moving rapidly, I didn’t know what was happening. The children were frightened. I stood under the door and I became very nervous. I did not think I would be safe from the earthquake. After a long time the earthquake stopped a little bit and then I ran to a public place with my two little sons.
The walls of my home started to fall down. While we were sitting in the open public place my home totally collapsed. I was very shocked; I couldn’t bring out any equipment from my home. Only on the second day did we start to search for food, clothes, mobile phones and other materials from our collapsed home.
When ERDCN provided a tent and mats we were very happy, as now we can save our family, food, clothes and other materials. We thank ERDCN for visiting our home and community, listening to our painful experiences, and providing some relief materials along with counselling, sympathy and motivation.”
Source :http://www.allwecan.org.uk/main/stories-from-nepal