Kathmandu: Thousand of Nepalis gathered at Hanumandokha, Kathmandu, on April 24, the eve of the first anniversary of a devastating earthquake that shattered the Himalayan nation.
They lighted candles remembering their relatives who died in a series of tremors starting April 25, 2015, that ravaged the national capital of Kathmandu and other places.
One woman survivor said she lost her husband in the first quake. “I am here with my family to remember him and the other five who lost their lives along with him.”
Many others shared similar heart rendering stories.
Kamla Tripati, a single mother in Koshidekha area in Kavre district, said her life was shattered after the first quake. “I lost everything – my house, livestock, food grains, seeds, important documents – all that I worked hard to earn my entire life was gone with in a few minutes right in front of my eyes.”
She said lived through the monsoon and the bitter winter under a tin-roof house.
Most survivors have not got the initial installments of 200,000 rupees from the government to make their houses.
Gopal Mahto, another quake survivor, said the government initially did not allow him or any NGOs to help him build his house. The government then set up the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) and allowed people to make their houses. “However, I am finding hard to find construction workers to complete my house,” Mahto told Matters India.
Although donors promised 4.1 billion rupees in aid, the Nepal government was more affected by the political aftershocks of enacting a new constitution. Hence the government and various political parties took g time to appoint the NRA. They finally formed it after the second great quake. The delayed further to design a national building code that was acceptable to all.
During the past year, Nepal suffered the two great quakes and many aftershocks and a heavy monsoon. It passed the constitution amid protests and blockades that seriously affected the people’s resilience.
The earthquake killed nearly 9,000 people and wounded more than 20,000 in Nepal. Around 770,000 families were rendered homeless. Out of this only 700 have received first installment of the 200,000 rupees or rebuilding of the houses. In all, Nepal lost 38,000 classrooms to the earthquake.
In spite of all the government regulations not to construct anything without prior written permission, the Nazareth Sisters in Nepal built one of the completely damaged government primary schools with four classrooms and two toilets. They also repaired one of the damaged health post with an additional waiting room for the patients.
Shyam Bika of Koshidekha says the Nazareth sisters were the first to reach out to them on the fourth day of the quake. “Since then, they have been with us giving all the necessary immediate relief materials, psycho-social support for children and women, materials for temporary shelter, seeds and goats for livelihood.”
The nuns also helped people to make cement blocks for the construction of the 507 houses, Bika told Matters India.