Friday, January 15, 2016

When in April a series of horrible earthquakes shook Nepal and a large area around Katmandu more than 8.000 people died, and more than 21.000 people got injured.
The damage was tremendous, ranging from minor damage to houses, to complete demolition of houses and large buildings, like tempels.
In the mountains villages couldn't be reached, which meant that food and medical help couldn't get to the people who needed it and many had to live without any shelter.

Ofcourse I'd seen the TV programs and countless photo's of friends who live in the area.

Today I saw a documentary about the first earthquake of 7.8 on the scale of Richter and the large ones that followed.

I saw the horrible film about the shaking of Katmandu, the falling apart of houses and other buildings, heard the cries of terror and fear. Even saw a friend walking around, knowing how he felt at the moment: completely disorientated, afraid he would die, lost. He didn't think, he just walked to one side of the road, then to the other side, and back again.
His world had become just a feeling and two legs that walked and a body that followed.
I saw him in a way I've never seen him and probably never will see him.

The moviemaker went on to show a temple in crumbles.

My friend finally was taken by the hand by a tiny old Nepalese woman, with deep wrinkles in her face, and eyes that caught his and finally touched his brains. He felt drawn back into human contact and then reached out to hug her and her grandchild that clinged to her skirts. He's spend the rest of the day with them. Trying to find some shelter for the night, and some food.
They became family. He is still there, trying to make her a new house, and we know where to send our money.

The movie went on with the terrible avalanche on the Mount Everest.

reality is that the media have forgotten about this terrible force of nature.
The people still struggle.

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