Tragedy and Hope in Langtang Valley
One of the great things about working in MAF is the inspiring people we partner with and serve, and OM’s team in Langtang Valley is an example, using their influence and expertise to sustainably rebuild shattered homes and bring hope to shattered lives.
Story and photos Bill Harding
I’m usually pretty comfortable in helicopters, but I feel a bit sick as we fly over the huge grey mass of rubble 20-30m deep which now fills an entire Himalayan valley where a thriving village used to be and where over 150 people are buried.
About 1/3 of the population of the Langtang Valley died in the earthquakes and landslide in April and over 100 families lost their homes there. The visual impact of the devastation and loss is almost overpowering.
Nama Lima lost everything
On the ground in the village above Langtang, I meet Nama Lima whom MAF had recently flown to Langtang. His story is typical – his parents, sister and home were all lost under the landslide, but so too was his means of livelihood. He no longer guides trekkers coming up his picturesque valley because tourism there has almost completely stopped.
Bringing a sense of hope
Lima introduces me to a group using scrap from damaged homes and some materials that have been helicoptered in to make hasty preparations for winter. This is where Operation Mobilisation (OM) has been at work since the earthquake, before it actually – OM associates have been working in the valley for some time.
After the earthquake and landslides OM’s Nepali-speaking team came alongside Langtang Valley families in their loss and have been helping salvage materials, constructing temporary shelters, providing necessities for life and bringing a sense of hope. Karma Lama stops work long enough to say, “Without OM we could not stay here. Thank you for the helicopters bringing food, blankets, clothes and materials so that some of us can continue here through the winter.”
Rebuilding shattered homes and lives
One of the great things about working in MAF is the inspiring people we partner with and serve, and OM’s team in Langtang Valley is an example. OM’s Relief Project Manager, explains to me how OM is using its influence and expertise to sustainably rebuild shattered homes and bring hope to shattered lives.
Johannes is a civil engineer from Germany. He’s been in Nepal for about a year and a half and speaks Nepali comfortably. His technical role is to give advice and help to locals and external groups like Samaritans Purse in the reconstruction of homes using available materials and the improving their earthquake resistance, but I am also impressed by the warmth and quality of interaction he and other OM staff have with the local people. Johannes greets an old lady and speaks with an old man outside his temporary shelter of rocks. A local woman implores him to find a way to get more warm clothes and personal effects to the village.
Critical partnership
Like most visitors, I’m staggered by the harshness of life high up in this remote valley, combined with the devastation and loss, but I also feel privileged to see how a partnership between MAF and its donors can make a difference. “Using helicopters to reach the people in Langtang Valley at a small fraction of the true cost is critical for us and we are very grateful to MAF for making our relief and rebuilding ministry possible,” says Johannes as the team board the helicopter to return to Kathmandu.
