Preparing for the monsoons

Before the monsoon hits again, Lukumari (68) has to repair and make her temporary shelter watertight in order to withstand the potential discomfort   monsoon will bring in the absence of a proper house. She endured last monsoon under thin tarps which was her family  shelter soon after the earthquake. And this year too, the threat from monsoon still looms as she continues to live under the temporary shelter with her differently abled son.

In the small ground beneath a green hill, World Vision's staff are all set to distribute Corrugated Galvanised Iron (CGI) sheets to around 550 households in Sundaradevi VDC, Nuwakot provided with the support of  Aktion Deutschland Hilft (ADH).

The midday sun is scorching and the heat is difficult to bear, but Lukamari and her 34-year-old son hastily reach the distribution venue right on time where hundreds of other entitled beneficiaries are already gathered. Bearing the wrath of the blazing sun, they are eagerly waiting to bring the CGI sheets home as they anticipate the rainy season to begin soon.

"My house was drenched from the dripping water last week when there was a heavy rainfall," Lukamari narrates. "The fear of being swept away by the flood was more terrifying," she further adds.

14 months after the earthquake, most of the households in this community are still living in makeshift shelters. After struggling under tarps and tents in the initial months of the disaster, families started to live under these temporary shelters. But the difficulties of living in such shelters made with old, rusted CGI sheets and remains of the collapsed houses are overwhelming.

Nangai (70) says, "We are living in fear all the time. When there is heavy rainfall or wind, we fear that our house maybe swept or blown away."

He has experienced many sleepless nights already, just praying and waiting for the rain to stop.

For Nangai, getting these CGI sheets brings a much needed sigh of relief.

With these CGI sheets, beneficiaries like Lukumari and Nangai are now planning to make their shelters more strong and secured to withstand this monsoon. Hoping to get rid of the dripping roof, Lukumari says, "I will replace the old CGI sheets which are full of holes."  

"We will also re-use the CGI sheets when we make our new and robust house," says Nangai with a hopeful smile.

After receiving two bundles of CGI sheets, Lukumari stands by to guard it at the distribution point while her son, who cannot talk and speak, carries two sheets at a time to the house.  She constantly gazes as her son staggers in the distance. The CGI sheets will help them better prepare for this monsoon.

Written by Ankush Chalise, Emergency Communications Coordinator, WVIN