Wednesday 27 April 2016

Reporter’s Blog: Nepal earthquake – Powering the country one year on

It’s hard to believe it has been a year since Nepal was struck by a devastating earthquake: the day that changed everyone’s lives forever.

More than eight million people were affected and thousands killed and injured after a 7.8 magnitude quake hit the beautiful Himalayan country.

It affected people’s daily lives: basic commodities like food and water that we take for granted were scarce, especially for those living in remote areas.

[caption id="attachment_120610" align="aligncenter" width="575"] Image: Ayush Krishna Palikhey[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_120612" align="aligncenter" width="575"] Image: Ayush Krishna Palikhey[/caption]

With the energy infrastructure left in ruins and power being key to everything: to heat, light homes and go about people’s daily lives, we launched our ‘Re-energise Nepal’ campaign.

With the help of many of you in the UK energy industry and beyond, we were able to raise nearly £4,000.

My family visited Dolakha this week, a remote and mountainous district and a five-hour ride from the capital city Kathmandu, which has received less aid compared to other regions.

[caption id="attachment_120681" align="aligncenter" width="575"] Gearing up to deliver the materials. Image: Ayush Krishna Palikhey[/caption]

Half of the money was used to buy solar panels, light bulbs, torches and batteries to provide power to homes that don’t have access to it. The remaining funds will be used to provide solar power in another remote village in Solukhumbu at a later date.

People there, like in many other areas, still live in temporary shelters and thousands of them are struggling to rebuild their lives.

The solar systems, along with tarpaulins and mosquito nets which were bought through a separate fundraising initiatve my sister Priya and I organised, were distributed to 75 families in Dolakha.

[caption id="attachment_120624" align="aligncenter" width="575"] Image: Ayush Krishna Palikhey[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_120678" align="aligncenter" width="575"] Image: Ayush Krishna Palikhey[/caption]

Those specific households were chosen from a list of people who had received very little aid and were too destitute to afford to buy their own.

Majority of the families we provided the necessities to through the Nepal Anti-Tuberculosis Association were either blind, mentally ill or living with a disability.

[caption id="attachment_120626" align="aligncenter" width="575"] Image: Ayush Krishna Palikhey[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_120677" align="aligncenter" width="575"] Image: Ayush Krishna Palikhey[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_120686" align="aligncenter" width="575"] Image: Ayush Krishna Palikhey[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_120687" align="aligncenter" width="575"] Image: Ayush Krishna Palikhey[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_120635" align="aligncenter" width="575"] Image: Ayush Krishna Palikhey[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_120641" align="aligncenter" width="575"] Image: Ayush Krishna Palikhey[/caption]

While the contribution may be small in the grand scheme of things, it was very humbling to see, albeit through pictures, that the money we raised will power the homes of 75 families and at least provide some relief in the hour of their needs.

Thank you to everyone for helping bring that glimmer of hope and light in Nepal and supporting us in re-energising the country!

If you wish to help us take this initiative forward, please feel free to contact me.