‘I will surely die’: child survivor of Nepal quake
Ayush, 11, has lost his home, an uncle and a boyhood friend.
The two earthquakes that recently devastated his country of Nepal in April and May have claimed more than 8,500 of his fellow citizens.
When it struck, he remembers feeling a single emotion.
“Just I can remember my fear,” the boy tells charity group ChildFund.
“I can remember the thought of my mind, which I will surely die.”
• Australia increases Nepal aid
• The amazing ‘Spiderman’ climbs for Nepal
• Aussie students fail to make top 10 in world rankings
The house where Ayush lived has been “totally destroyed”, like so many of the buildings across the impoverished Himalayan nation.
A falling rock struck his uncle, while an entire building collapsed upon his friend, Suarav.
ChildFund’s emergency team is currently working to feed boys like Ayush and their families in Sindhupalchok, one of the worst hit districts.
This task has been hampered by the remoteness of these villages, the steepness and ruggedness of the roads that wind to them, and almost daily landslides triggered by aftershocks.
The charity’s second round of food distribution will start in Pangretar, a remote village located about four hours east of Kathmandu in central Nepal.
Each family will receive 30 kilograms of rice, 4kg of dhal, 1kg of salt and 2 litres of cooking oil.
With three other villages also receiving help from ChildFund, this distribution will eventually reach more than 14,000 people.
“Hundreds of people remain homeless in our areas, nearly a month after the first quake hit,” said ChildFund Nepal director Mariko Tanaka in a statement.
“Our priority is to provide food and shelter for all those who are vulnerable. This must be done as quickly as possible before the monsoons arrive at the end of the month,” Ms Tanaka said.
The charity has also begun work on safe refuges where children can play and learn until their schools reopen.
“Our primary concern is for the safety and wellbeing of children affected by this terrible disaster,” said ChildFund Australia CEO Nigel Spence in a statement.
“While it is reassuring that aid is getting through, huge challenges remain and it will be a long road to recovery for these children and their families.””
Click here if you wish to donate to ChildFund’s humanitarian efforts in Nepal.