Quake victims help one another in rescue, rehab, reconstruction

OKHALDHUNGA, May 23: After the earthquake of April 25 destroyed his house, Badri Ghimire of Ragani VDC-1, Okhaldhunga district, did not have to wait for the government authorities or non-government organisations to come and help him. His own neighbours extended a helping hand.

Locals helped Ghimire pull out all his belongings, including grain, clothes and valuables, from the quake rubble.

”Neighbours who were themselves quake victims came to our aid,” he said.

The earthquakes of April 25 and May 12 have destroyed the houses of many like Ghimire in Ragani VDC. The locals were plunged into grief and dismay by the great loss of life and property. And there was no one from outside to stand side by side with them in their hour of need.

But their own neighbours, including those who were themselves affected, have joined hands to help one aother in rescue, rehabilitation and reconstruction work. They have helped each other arrange temporary shelter immediately after the earthquake, and now they are helping to rebuild permanent houses.

When the affected locals found themselves helpless and no one to turn to, their neighbors rushed in to help, reaffirmed another local, Surya Prasad Dhungel.

”In this time of disaster, we realized the importance of neighbours as it was they who extended support even though they themselves were also badly affected,” said Dhungel.

He added that sucb mutual support has made their mutual bonds stronger.

The quake victims claim that relief supplies have reached them in most of the affected areas only after four or five days.

Political party leaders, including Constituent Assembly member Yagya Sunuwar and Nepali Congress leader Pradeep Sunuar, reached out to local victims with relief materials only a week after the first earthquake.

”Thanks be to the locals. Had they not helped each other, they could end up suffering even more,” said Sita Paudel Nepal, a social mobilizer in Ragani VDC.

The role of the affected locals in helping one another has been appreciated, and has contributed to bringing life back to normal, according to VDC Secretary Ramnath Shah.

Meanwhile, Chief District Officer Ganesh Prasad Bhattarai, who is also chief of the distrtict disaster relief committee, informed that over 50 VDCs in the district as well as the municipality have been affected by the earthquake.

Nineteen people in the district have been killed by the quake so far, according to CDO Bhattarai.