April’s earthquake in Nepal killed over 9000 people and devastated much of the country.
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Almost from the day of the disaster Ballarat aid groups have been working hard to help in some of the worst-affected areas.
Graeme Kent has done charity work in Nepal for years, and was in touch with people on the ground almost immediately after the earthquake.
He and his charity, Aussie Action Abroad, have focused on the village of Rithepani, south of Pokhara.
Mr Kent will lead a group of 50 volunteers to Nepal in December.
Rithepani, where most of the group aims to go, is so damaged that they will take the huge step of moving the population of about 500 to a new site and rebuild.
Mr Kent said it was achievable, with local support and financial help from home.
“To rebuild the village and to relocate, you’re looking at the equivalent of a million and a half Australian dollars. Now that’s 100 homes, all the water, electricity, temples, toileting, all that sort of infrastructure stuff,” he said.
In the short-term the goal will be to ‘winterise’ the damaged houses so people can get through the cooler months.
“In January, March, April it’s going to get really cold. There’s going to be some deaths because of that cold,” he said.
“(People) are only in temporaries, so you’re looking at bamboo or tin-roofed buildings, probably quite drafty.”
“If you can provide clothing, if you can lift (people) up off the floor, if you can provide some insulation in the home, then you’ve got a better chance of survival. (In Rithepani), we will do some of those jobs.”
Mr Kent said the developing country was also still dealing with supply issues that have been intensified by the earthquake and also geopolitical challenges.
“(In Australia) we assume we go to the servo to replace a gas bottle. We’ve got a photo of people who wait for days to refill a gas bottle,” he said.
Additionally, there is a skills shortage because of the number people emigrating for work.
““The dilemma that you’ve also got is that many of those homes have now got just the women and the kids because all the blokes have nicked off... to the Middle East to look for work,” he said.
You can find out more about Aussie Action Abroad at facebook.com/aussieactionabroad
