Mayo efforts in devastated Nepal

Mayo efforts in devastated Nepal


Anton McNulty and Ciara Galvin 

A Kiltimagh aid worker has said the biggest issue in Nepal following the devastating earthquake last month is shelter. 

Dualta Rougheen travelled to Dolakha in the Central Development Region last week with Plan Ireland and is currently trying to distribute food to the worst affected areas following the earthquake. Plan has so far distributed over 2,300 emergency shelter supplies, food supplies and other household items to dozens of devastated districts and villages.

The earthquake which is thought to have killed over 7,000 people, occurred on April 25 and had a moment magnitude of 7.8. According to the latest estimates it is thought up to eight million people have been affected by the quake. 

Having previously travelled to the Ebola hit west African country of Guinea, Dualta said the situation in Nepal is very different. 

“This is very different, it’s a challenge of a different nature. Right now it is simply trying to get things from A to B in impassable terrain. Ebola was a more nuanced challenge,” explained Dualta, speaking to The Mayo News from Nepal. 

Describing the damage done to the country, Dualta says from the air he could see 50 percent of houses were destroyed in some districts.

“In Alampu where we landed, there were only a few buildings that even looked intact, most were gone. The people there seemed ok for now, but needing shelter and were happy to finally be receiving some food, but shelter remains the key issue,” says Dualta. 

The aid worker says villages in some parts of the country are ‘virtually flattened’ making it incredibly difficult for teams to deliver food and medical supplies. 

Dualta says though there are still tremors, they are becoming less and less.  

Meanwhile, Newport native Trish Ginnelly has made contact with friends and family letting them know she is safe in Nepal. Trish has been living practically full time in Nepal since 1998 and set up SATHI, a charity to help find shelter and food for children. 

Local fundraiser  

A fundraising night will take place in the GrΡinne Uaile in Newport this Friday with all proceeds going to SATHI. 

Speaking to The Mayo News yesterday (Monday) Nepalise native Jubina Ghapa said she decided to organise the fundraiser as she wanted to  ‘help out some way’.

Jubina has been living and working in Newport for the past eight years and was last in Nepal in December. Thankfully her home place Bokhara was not affected badly from the earthquake. 

“My family over there are safe thank God. Since it happened I’ve been stuck in the news and spoke to Trish and told her I wanted to do something to help. Trish is doing very well and I trust that money will be put to good use,” said Ms Ghapa. 

The fundraiser takes place in the GrΡinne Uaile in Newport this Friday from 9.30pm.