On April, 25th 2015 the 1st of many, very strong earthquakes took place. 8,800 people died. Infrastructure worth of billions was destroyed. Not only public buildings and private houses were destroyed, but parts of Nepal's cultural heritage as well.
Thousands of houses were destroyed.
Massive new buildings broke down as well due to the high magnitude of the earthquakes.
Even many concrete buildings did not resist to the punches of the trembling earth.
This is what remained of one of the villages, Harisiddi, which we supported with construction materials for provisional shelters and reconstruction of houses.
Immediately after the earthquake a lot of emergency help was on the way, mainly from the citizenship itself and from the numerous NGOs active in Nepal. We supported financially ROKPA giving 1st aid medical help, providing food supply and provisional shelter in tents.
As many roads were severly damaged 1st aid had to be brought to the remote villages by human porters.
ROKPA sent out emergency teams to remote villages where hardly any help arrived. The teams came with food supply, gas for cooking, tents as provisional shelters. They also provided some basic medical help.
The garden of ROKPA's orphanage in Patan as campground for people having lost their homes or not daring to spend the night in the threatened buildings.
Mr. Anupendra, principal of M-WEC, and his wife Bina give food packages to women attending our school who are in desperate need for immediate help.
Soon after the earthquake monsoon came to Nepal as usual. People need clothes which protect them from rain and cold wind. We outfiitted children living in an orphan centre.
Thousands of tents were set up for families whose house was destroyed or for those who did not dare to spend the night in their instable homes.
Bamboo was used as a building material, Nepali are familiar with and which does not cost much. These simple cabins allow secure nights and protect from rain.
Corrugated iron is by far a more sustainable building material, but also an expensive one. Speculation of unscrupulous tradesmen had the prices risen for many articles needed for daily life.
For six weeks the school was closed. The women had to reorganize their own life and those for their families. They also had to look after their relatives living in the affected villages. By the middle of June M-WEC restarted with the usual school life.
The sewing class as well resumed its lessons.
As before the earthquake Friday is dedicated to social events. The women cook together and share lunch before weekend begins.
2016 - ongoing help to deal with the impact of the earthquake. With the money we collected in Germany, among other projects, a new school was built in the litte village called Nebot Pokhari.
Another project the donations from Germany are used for: the completely wrecked temple of Balche Thulagoan is rebuilt.