Monsoon preview in Kathmandu blows away shelters in relief camp

Monsoon preview in Kathmandu blows away shelters in relief camp

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 Strong storm in Kathmandu blows away shelters in relief camp http://bit.ly/1JNI1o0 #1monthNepal @OxfamIndia

 #NepalEarthquake has left millions homeless. They now face monsoon mayhem. #1monthNepal

A strong storm in Kathmandu last evening gave a gloomy prelude of the things to come in Nepal. The shelters built in Tundikhel camp were blown away and people were seen struggling to set up fresh bamboo shelters to have a roof over their heads.

With the monsoon season not too far away and millions still homeless in Nepal, the need of temporary shelters is urgent. 

The Tundikhel camp in Kathmandu city is home to almost 4000 people who have left their collapsed houses in Nepal capital to stay in these temporary shelters. 

The tremors of May 12, brought more than 12,000 people to Tundikhel. Many lost their houses, others too scared to live inside buildings. Two-third of them have returned to homes but others like Pooja, have nowhere to go.

Having been rattled by the massive earthquake in Nepal on April 25, Pooja’s life was turned upside down by the 7.0 magnitude aftershock on May 12.

She lost her husband, her house and all her belongings. Pooja had to send off her three children to live with her relatives in safer parts of Nepal. She then arrived in Tundikhel camp looking for food, water and shelter.

As our team went to see the 10,000 litre water tank installed by Oxfam in the camp, Pooja greets us in Hindi. She is currently living in one of the relief shelters, which houses seven people. The same shelter that has been uprooted by the storm.

Pooja has no money to buy medicines, no fixed shelter, limited food and water supply with no way to rebuild her home.

In was also heartening to see a group of volunteers from Patiala, India taking the time off from their work to come to the camp and dal and rice. They supply regular meals to the people – the only source of food for these 4000 people.

Oxfam has also built toilets and shower stalls for men and women in the camp. On the other side of the camp we saw another cluster of people. It is here we met Rajan Shreshta and Vivek Ranjiktar. They too have lost everything with the earthquake, but have volunteered with Oxfam,  while staying at the camps. 

Rajan and Vivek are amongst the many young men and women who keep these toilets clean in various shifts. The men on duty said the shower stalls will again be up and running in another two hours.

Written by: Oxfam India staff

Photo Credit: Gunjan Jain/Oxfam India