Nepal Red Cross volunteers unloading relief goods to be distributed in Kalikasthan to 256 families coming from the community of Saramthali. /Nicole Robicheau, Canadian Red Cross.
Community members from Saramthali going through the verification process before picking up Nepal Red Cross relief items in the schoolyard in Kalikasthan. /Nicole Robicheau, Canadian Red Cross.
Community members from Saramthali picking up Nepal Red Cross relief items in the schoolyard in Kalikasthan. /Nicole Robicheau, Canadian Red Cross.
Sixty-five year old Nemawangadi Tamang from the community of Saramthali picking up relief goods in the schoolyard in Kalikasthan. /Nicole Robicheau, Canadian Red Cross.
Nepal Red Cross volunteer distributes flyers in Kalikasthan explaining how to use aquatabs to purify water to 256 families coming from the community of Saramthali. /Nicole Robicheau, Canadian Red Cross.
Nepal Red Cross technical officer Sarita Dhungana explains the proper way to use aquatabs to community members from Saramthali coming to receive relief items. /Nicole Robicheau, Canadian Red Cross.
Nepal Red Cross technical officer Sarita Dhungana demonstrates hand washing techniques to community members from Saramthali coming to receive relief items. /Nicole Robicheau, Canadian Red Cross.
At around eight in the morning on a dry Thursday morning during monsoon season, a big Red Cross truck full of relief supplies shows up in front of the local school in the community of Kalikasthan.
Volunteers start unloading hygiene kits, blankets, kitchen sets and tarpaulins.
Today they’re distributing much needed relief goods to 256 families from the community of Saramthali. During monsoon season, the road to this community is often blocked by landslides, like it is today. That means community members have had to walk for five hours to reach the school.
Nepal Red Cross Society volunteer Ganesh Acharya helps to get things organized for people to receive their goods.
“I started volunteering after the earthquake and my favourite part is being able to discuss with communities and help them,” says Acharya.
Just after nine o’clock, community members are let into the school courtyard. The first thing they do is sit down and listen to Nepal Red Cross technical officer Sarita Dhungana. She explains how to use aquatabs correctly to purify water as well as demonstrates some good hygiene practices, such as the proper way to wash hands. She then moves on to explain how to use the tarpaulins and shelter kits correctly.
After the demonstrations, people are asked to line-up and present their Red Cross beneficiary card, which they received previously during an assessment.
Sixty-five year old Nemawangadi Tamang is one of the first to receive his relief items. His house was fully damaged, and he’s been living under tarps since the earthquake.
“I am happy for what I received, I got all the things that I need, the problem is that I now have to walk back,” says Tamang.
The community will make the five-hour trek back together, helping each other carry their goods. To date, the Red Cross has distributed more than 6,100 relief kits in communities like these. In addition, the Canadian Red Cross has set up its field hospital in Dhunche, and is providing care to the entire district of Rasua, where this community is located.
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