And we are off again, this time to Lower Sikri village about 2km before Jiri Bazaar in Dolkha District, the epicenter of Tuesday’s 7.4 magnitude quake.
Our initial plan was to take supplies to Sindapulchowk, one of the hardest hit areas from both quakes, but with roads closed due to landslides and dangerous conditions, access is blocked and so we had to rethink.
Yesterday we were contacted by locals from Sikri village asking for help as their homes are gone and they have received no support since the first devastating quake on the 25th April.
After discussions on the number of households affected, what their immediate requirements were, access and accessibility, the mission was confirmed and the HQ team and four villagers left in the early hours of this morning with a bus packed with rice, daal, cooking oil, soap, tarpaulins and medical supplies – enough for the 200 households for 1 week, supporting on average about 1000 people.
The journey is a long and arduous one and will take a minimum of 9-10 hours to the village trail head, probably longer, meaning the team will have to overnight before returning to Kathmandu tomorrow evening. So as not to put extra pressure on an already stressed community they have packed to be self sufficient, although no doubt, the community will insist on feeding them as is customary here in Nepal.
From compound to bus by rickshaw
All packed and ready to go