Resilience of the Sherpa Community After the Nepal Earthquake
Phurba’s heart broke when he saw the devastation in Chaurikharka, the village where he grew up. But there’s no time for sadness, he says, when so much work has to be done.The mother of Dawa Chiri Sherpa cares for his 18-month-old daughter after the climbing guide was killed by a quake-triggered avalanche at Everest Base Camp.Dawa Chiri Sherpa’s mother mourns her son, the climbing guide who died at the base camp. The family was upset that it took two days before his body was returned to them.A girl helps clean out rubble from her family home in the village of Kyongma. In some villages, almost every house was damaged in the massive quake.High in the hills, the mode of transportation is often animals such as yaks, donkeys and buffaloes.A Sherpa woman prepares food in the restaurant of a lodge in Khumjung where only a few tourists remained. Most trekkers fled after the quake.Nawang Sherpa held onto his baby girl during the earthquake. They survived but are now too frightened to sleep within cracked walls. The family of four lives in a tent set up nearby.The fields are lush with new wheat, but little remains of this farmer’s house in the village of Rimijung.Young monks take wood up to a 500-year-old monastery that was heavily damaged in the earthquake. They are afraid that what remains might still come tumbling down.A Sherpa man cuts stone to try rebuilding his damaged house. Many of the houses in this part of Solokhumbu District were built with stone, cement and wood and sustained major damage.The students at the Gumila teaching monastery ran out for cover when the earth began shaking. They survived, but their classroom didn’t.Principal Biruman Rai surveys the damage at his school in Chaurikharka. He says it will take at least three months before the classrooms can hold children again.
Conclusion
The strength and resilience of the Sherpa community following the devastating earthquake illustrate a profound human spirit. Their efforts to rebuild and recover serve as a reminder of the power of community and perseverance in the face of adversity.
For more information about disaster aid and recovery efforts, consider exploring relevant resources from humanitarian organizations.
