When we last spoke with Bishnu this morning, he was in good spirits and ready to tackle the day. Today he will be meeting with the Red Cross of Nepal and begin coordination on relief efforts to be mounted and where to focus.
The region has continued to experience minor after-shocks but things are getting better. The people in the Kathmandu Valley are returning to their homes and starting to return to their lives to some small degree of normalcy. It rained all night but this morning, skies are blue and clear and there is a sense of relief amongst the masses living in the Valley.
The rural areas continue to suffer under unseasonably bad weather. There were hail storm throughout the night and more bad weather happening today. Bishnu has been in communications with Kiran Neupane (CHOICE Nepal Program Director), who is still in Lamjung. News of the roads being cleared means he will be able to return to Kathmandu tomorrow and will provide Bishnu with a more complete assessment of the situation in Lamjung and Ghorkha.
The people who were stuck in Kathmandu are also making plans to return to their homes in the rural areas which is further indication that many roads are opening. They are feeling more confident that supplies will begin to flow into Kathmandu soon.
Bishnu envisions these two strategies:
Immediate Relief Strategy:
As an outcome to the meeting with Red Cross Nepal, Bishnu will provide us with as specific of a list as possible of the following:
1. What types of supplies are needed immediately?
2. Where the most need is?
3. Quantity of supplies required.
4. If supplies can be acquired locally (from the Tarai or border towns of India)?
5. If supplies will need to be brought in from US or other foreign locations?
6. What professionals (medical, engineer, logistics, etc. ) could be of immediate service, how and where.
Transition to rebuild:
As things stabilize, there is less need for emergency supplies and more focus on starting the rebuild. Bishnu explained that, particularly in the rural areas, not only homes were destroyed but many schools, clinics, water systems etc. This means, for example, that the children are not able to return to school right away. The more quickly we can mobilize communities and rebuild these facilities, the faster these communities can stabilize.
We are seeing that the relief and support needed in the Kathmandu Valley is already happening.
Previous update from April 25th.
Previous update from April 26th.