THE STORY:
Dear Friends:
Another powerful 7.3 earthquake has struck Nepal, about 42 miles west of Namche Bazar, in the Everest region. "Thame Valley is badly shaken and people are visibly demoralized" according to Dr. Lhakpa Norbu Sherpa. This has been followed by numerous aftershocks in the 5.0 – 6.0 range.
The Tenzing Norgay Family has initiated The Tenzing Norgay Sherpa Thame Earthquake Relief campaign to support our family, friends and the people of Thame and neighboring villages get back on their feet and rebuild their homes and lives. We will work with the local community, reputed NGO’s, and local experts in Nepal to ensure your contribution makes a direct and lasting impact to those affected.
The real extent of the devastation is emerging as disaster relief teams finally reach far-flung villages. At last count, there are over eight thousand dead, many more injured and property damage has been immense and total. While we may never know the final count of the dead and the injured, we can all agree that the earthquake has left a trail of destruction that will remain etched in our hearts and minds forever, even though what has been physically destroyed will eventually be rebuilt.
While the immediate and basic needs of food, temporary tented shelter and clothing are reaching Thame from nearby Sherpa villages not as badly affected, substantial external support is required to sustain the community in the coming months and the difficult task of rebuilding homes in the long term. The fact that the trekking and climbing season, the main livelihood for most of the residents of Thame, has ground to a halt, will render rebuilding efforts virtually impossible without external support.
Our family and friends in Nepal are safe, but the tragedy has hit very close to home – the Sherpa village of Thame in the Solo Khumbu region just below Mt. Everest, where Tenzing Norgay Sherpa spent much of his childhood has also been devastated, with over 90% of the houses rendered uninhabitable. Thame also happens to be the ancestral home of our late mother and her family - many of whom live in the region and have completely lost their homes and are currently living in tents. Thankfully no deaths were reported as almost everyone was either away, working in the fields, or outside when the earthquake struck. Jamling Tenzing Norgay, who was also in the Everest region during the earthquake, narrowly escaped.
National Geographic story on Thame Earthquake Devastation:
Jamling Tenzing with Becky Anderson of CNN on the Nepal Earthquake and the plight of the Sherpa Climbers/Community:
http://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/05/05/exp-connect-the-world-nepal-sherpa.cnn
The Telegraph UK: Peter Hillary and Jamling Tenzing on the Nepal Earthquake:
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