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Ahile Ma Atyanta Duhki Chu


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The epicenter of today's devastating earthquake was 

within walking distance of my former home there --

(and about 40 km east of my wife's old residence).

 

I'm used to hearing about a dozen people being killed,

all at once -- even a few hundred.

 

But thousands?

Among my former neighbors and students?

 

ahile ma atyanta duhki chu

(I'm feeling very sad today)

 

UD

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Neither have I been paying attention to the news... I'll have to go in and see if I can find information.  Dale, I'm assuming it was on the Big Island... do you know the magnitude?

I'm so sorry to hear this...

 

GG

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...the quake was stronger than the Haitian one and the death toll will be much lower.  Glad for that, but so sad the loss of life and history.

 

Some of the better buildings in the capital city and elsewhere

will be OK -- but most are damaged -- many destroyed.

 

Away from the capital, out in the countryside, the death toll

will rise greatly -- from untreated injuries, disruption of previous

medical services -- lack of shelter -- lack of money to replace

everything lost, and, finally -- from malnutrition and starvation.

 

More than half of the population lives hand-to-mouth, with only

enough food set aside for a week or two. With houses reduced 

to rubble -- cooking facilities destroyed -- preserved food ruined,

buried, or lost -- the situation is dire.

 

The people I lived next door to, out in the remote countryside,

harvested two crops of rice per year. Half of the harvest proceeds

went to the landlord. A quarter went to pay off standing debts. An

eighth set aside for planting seed, and the remaining 1/8th of a

rice harvest consumed entirely, just before the next harvest was

ready to be cut.

 

People living like that are lucky to have the equivalent of US $100

in savings (which is, invariably, the wife's rings, necklace, etc.)

In such a situation as is coming in the next few days, a pair of

gold earrings might fetch a couple of cooked meals -- maybe.

 

Foreign aid will come too late, be mis-directed, stolen, or "lost"

before it can purchase the needed rice and insure distribution

to the rural villagers.

 

I fear the worst...

 

UD

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I see the death toll is up past 2,000 now. How devastating.

The quake also triggered avalanches on Mt. Everest, impacting climbers at base camp and trapping/killing climbers on the mountain. Last I saw the route thru the ice fall (the leg directly out of base camp and very dangerous in the best conditions) is gone and no one know how to get people off the mountain.

Of course Everest Is not the only tourist attraction there.

Typically there are many hundreds (if not thousands)

of visitors, trekkers, and climbers, practicing on other,

less difficult mountains, in remote areas. Many trails

pass through snowfields and even during moderate

quakes (like I experienced several times while living

there) those trails are dangerous places.

Any foreign trekkers injured or trapped in isolated

areas, will find it very, very difficult to reach places

where they can get assistance. A good battery

operated sattelite phone might be a life-saver.

It will be several days -- if not weeks -- before all

the foreign visitors can be accounted for.

UD

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http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/major-earthquake-strikes-nepal?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LDSNewsRoomTop15+%28RSS%3A+LDS+Newsroom%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

 

ALT LAKE CITY — 

"Our thoughts and prayers are with all those in Nepal impacted by Saturday’s earthquake and particularly those who have lost loved ones," Church spokesman Eric Hawkins said today. Initial reports indicate that over 1,400 people lost their lives in the magnitude-7.8 quake and thousands more are homeless.

The humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is determining how it can best help to relieve the suffering.

One senior missionary couple from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is serving in the area and they are safe.

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I'm so sorry.  Praying for everyone who's suffering!

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I'm so sorry. Praying for everyone who's suffering!

Many of the adults there have a philosophical view of

what "suffering" entails. Their religion(s) lead them to

accept the inevitability of human trauma. And most

come from sturdy, mountaineer stock -- used to getting

by, daily, on almost nothing, despite great exertion.

It's the kids who need prayers -- who need a level of

assistance beyond what human agency can provide.

When I was there, I was the only known Latter Day

Saint in the country (other than tourists) and only the

second RLDS to have resided there for a lengthy

period. Today there are many Community of Christ

members. I expect the leaders of that Church to

provide substantial aid -- and not just for members.

This will be a test, of just how truly they believe that

we each are our brothers' and sisters' keeper.

UD

Edited by Uncle Dale
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http://my.xfinity.com/blogs/news/2015/04/27/how-to-help-the-victims-of-the-nepal-earthquake/?cid=hero_nepalrelief

 

If you read the link it shows where one could donate funds.  Uncle Dale, which of these are best in your opinion?  Having lived there I thought you might could give insight.  Thank you and I'm so sorry this has happened for such a beloved area.

A major Google executive was killed in the quake, and I hear

that the Google corp. will be setting up a fund in his memory.

That is the sort of trustworthy effort I myself would be inclined

to contribute to -- but not right away. It will take weeks before

any really effective aid programs are functioning. Prior to

that time, contributions may not go to the most worthy ends.

UD

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