Thursday 14 May 2015

For those asking - T is safe in Nepal

but  he is exhausted. He was going to fly out on Sunday but his colleagues suggested he stay another week as there has been so much to do.  That means they need to cover for him as well.
He was outside when the second earthquake hit. It did not do a great deal more damage where he is. As he put it, "There's nothing left to fall down."
He  has to leave on Saturday whatever happens. The villagers know that. He spent the first few days dealing with severe injuries and then with a range of related problems that have, according to him, tested his own knowledge. He's seen the delivery of two healthy baby boys but lost another. He has lost patients he might have been able to save in a modern hospital with all the necessary equipment. He has operated without modern anaesthetics but with the help of the herbal medicines of the amchi.
Through all this he says the villagers are "stoic". They continue, as best they can, with their lives and their daily round of religious observances. The men are trying to rebuild some shelter before the monsoon season arrives. The women are trying to feed their families, care for the sick (and yes, the dying), and the very young.
The children have no school for now but they are helping the adults during the day and getting English lessons in the evenings from T's guide who has returned to help. English lessons may save them  if the tourists return.
What has moved T most is the small "gifts" the villagers bring him  - such as a cup of boiled hot water to drink when both water and fuel are in such short supply. When he prepares to walk out tomorrow he is going to leave behind a valley full of people trying to help themselves. 
He put it simply as, "It's going to be hard to say goodbye."

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