KATHMANDU

April 25 was supposed to be a usual Saturday — time for leisure, but it turned out to be one of the worst days of Nepal. The horrifying jolt is still haunting people everywhere. Their only concern now is to survive. They have left their homes homes and take refuge in nearby open spaces. But who is helping them? Is the authority concerned aiding to their basic needs? These answers that these questions unravel give a solemn picture, yet a ray of hope shines when people from the community offer help.

Purna Dhoj Karki, who resides in Anamnagar entered Singha Durbar from the West gate thinking he could keep his family safe. But that was a false hope. “There was no facility from the government, which they are supposed to provide. The Army has opened the space, but rest of the things like providing us with tents, food — nothing has been arranged. We returned from there at 10:00 pm drenched in the rain. It was sad. And when people shouted at the army personnel, they said, ‘We haven’t been given anything from the higher level, how will we give you anything?’”

There is a canteen on the premises but one can’t expect people who’ve run — some even barefeet — from their homes in sheer panic to carry cash to pay for food.

“There were people who haven’t eaten for three days. We’ve heard there has been lots of aid provided, but there is nothing here. Even if we were given some tents, it would provide relief to an extent. There were some from the Muslim community who were distributing tents on their own nonetheless.”

Looking for other people willing to speak one finds Daya Nidhi Poudel, a resident of Ghattekulo. He lives in a rented place and as the earthquake gifted a crack on their house, they went to Tundikhel. But last night’s shower forced them to move to Singha Durbar. “We have got a place to stay and have gotten water to drink at least, but there is nothing else here. We came here as our house cracked. Everything’s price has soared, this plastic that costs Rs 600-Rs700 now is Rs 1,500. Even a packet of noodle costs Rs 50,” he shared of his plight.

Then there is a different yet similar scene at Amrit Science College premises, Lainchaur. Almost 450-500 people have camped here since the quake. Students staying in the hostel came out to help them. “We didn’t initiate the move actually. People saw this open field and came here. When they came, we took it as our responsibility and started helping them however we could. Yesterday they managed some food and tea on their own,” Arjun Paudel shares while handing out black tea in plastic cups.

But how are they managing all this? The answer is simple as their only intention is to help. “We are going to search for stuff. We bought this tea from Sorrahkhutte. Even sugar was not available nearby. We couldn’t manage to buy milk or else we would have,” said a smiling Paudel hinting at the lack of monetary support. For now they are collecting money from the people taking refuge there and providing them whatever is possible.

However, the stinking problem is the toilets. “Toilets are becoming a problem now. Till yesterday we were able to manage it, now lack of water has made it difficult. And there is no electricity, so water availability is problematic. We also don’t have information whether water is being provided or not. If we knew, then we would have gone to fetch it on our own in any way.”

Whatever the difficulty, they are not disheartened as Upendra Shah, and Anil Subedi say, “We are doing this for humanity’s sake. This is all we can do for now.”

These young students are examples of humans who shine bright against the bleak picture of bureaucratic humbug and aids that are yet to be brought down to ground zero. It is not easy, but they have chosen to smile and help rather than sit and crib. “They (students) are helping here voluntarily; we are giving as much cash as we are able to Rs 5-10. Before that the Tole Sudhar Committee in our area (Thamel) gave us food by collecting money (whatever one could offer). Even water was provided. Then the number of people started increasing, so it was not feasible. That’s how we came here. Today students here at the hostel said they will provide for us, but we told them not to as even they don’t have anything for themselves. There are 200 students here and they don’t have anything to eat. But not having a proper tent is a big problem. Yesterday when it rained we stood under the tent and were drenched. There were people who ran away too,” said Mani Manandhar, one of the persons taking shelter under a plastic sheet in the area.

The moment Manandhar stops a lady speaks up, “The government should help somehow. Perhaps they went to other places, but no one has come here.”

According to the students and people living there, 450-500 people have gathered to take shelter. Among the crowd were two French nationals Marianne Deyres and Edith Roussin who have been staying here since April 25. “We have no problem as we are getting bottled water. We stayed here when it rained (on April 26). We took points off the sleeping bag and covered ourselves,” said a smiling Roussin in broken English.

At Bhatbhateni Park, opposite Bhat Bhateni Supermarket, a group of tourists rushed from the main gate carrying huge cartons of dry food and bottled water. Approaching them to talk about what they were doing Sam Taylor, a British national said while distributing the food, “We have been helping since the earthquake hit. Some of us have been at the square digging people out. Then we spent the night at the square. And then we have been going about all day distributing food. We have done the square, the main park and now this place, we went to the British Embassy and asked the British nationals and people staying at the Embassy to donate money and we have used a lot of our money too. It’s not from the government, we are spending from our pocket.”

Witnessing people helping out of their free will makes one believe in humanity all over again, that the world isn’t so bad as we believe it to be. With seven other people, Taylor was busy distributing foodstuff. They were sweating, looked tired, and were sunburnt, but nothing seemed to deter their motivation. If they are spending their money to help people here, how do they plan to go home? But Taylor surprises you making you feel overwhelmed. “I am not going home, I am staying here. We were visiting friends here, playing music, we are musicians. Will be staying here and after this I am going to Pokhara to help people there.”

The search for such beautiful souls led one to Narayanchaur, Naxal. Entering the ground, the first thing that catches the eye is ‘Red Cross’. Automatically one assumes: ‘Oh so there mustn’t be any problem here’, but the truth disappoints. “One or two tents have been provided by the Red Cross, but that’s it. Nothing else has been provided by them. We have been waiting for them to provide us with medicine, but no help so far. He is the one (pointing towards Bhupal Chettri) who has his own pharmacy and he has been providing all the medicine here. We already lack medicine. When I heard the news, I came to help. I recently completed my dentistry from Philippines. I came a week ago, saw everything messed up here so came to help. Local dais from the community are helping here. What is really heart-wrenching is that when it was announced that it was the government who was providing help here. Even when I came here I thought it was the Red Cross helping and that’s what confuses people. They put tents at such a location where it is visible from the roads,” says Nivedita Pradhan giving a sad picture.

A table has been set up here with medicines and cotton and it was crowded with a throng of people. They were busy attending the needy, without being rude.

“The first day when the earthquake hit, within 30 minutes we set up two tents on our own. This place was built for natural disaster management. We started with setting up a desk and some curtains and there was no medicine then,” said Bikash Kapali, another volunteer. Kapali was determined to help everyone, but feels helpless at the same time. It was obvious when he said, “Yesterday it was raining and everyone was cold and wet. Everywhere the crying of children and babies echoed.”

Jyoti Malla was busy attending an 18-month-old, but she was just helping a mother. Malla is again another volunteer.

And Shree Gurung offered a help of a different yet essential nature. His facebook post reads: “First step.. charging point. There is no electricity so I am letting everybody charge their phone until i run out of generator fuel and battery back up.”

Director Nischal Basnet has posted on his facebook page: “I went to few of the public camps, and if we don’t help and spread the news about probable disease outbreak we will be in trouble as the situation doesnt look good. Help to clean any such places. A bottle of clean water can help. A bottle of sanitiser can help. It’s time to help in anyway we can.

However, he also has a request: “AND PLEASE DONT REGULATE ANY MESSAGE SAYING THERE IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER BIG ONE. It’s not going to help that way. Wear mask ! Please.”

Yes, there are problems, everyone is suffering though the scale may vary, but when people become humans a different light shines and you question yourself — what am I doing from my side to help?