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Stuart Katz

Tragedy in Nepal: Helping Out in the Aftermath – Part II: Kathmandu and Kakani

Part II: Kathmandu and Kakani

Temple Damaged

The first leg of my journey began in Nepal’s capital and largest city, Kathmandu. A city of 2.5 million inhabitants, Kathmandu is a metropolis I would have loved to visit under other circumstances, in my role as a travel professional. In 2013, Trip Advisor ranked Kathmandu as 3rd among the top 10 on-the-rise travel destinations worldwide. The entire surrounding Kathmandu Valley has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its plentiful medieval architecture.

An ancient city, Kathmandu is home to numerous palaces, temples, and historical museums, all against the magnificent backdrop of the Himalayas. While some of the city’s treasures were preserved in the recent quake, many historic sites are, sadly, part of the surrounding rubble.

I arrived at the Kathmandu airport on Monday and immediately joined relief efforts there. First I headed to the hospital near the airport, Kathmandu Medical Teaching Hospital. There, I assisted in distributing foods to individuals who were searching for loved ones still, hoping that they might show up at the hospital.

Shipments sent in waiting to be distributed
Shipments sent in waiting to be distributed

Tentcity3

Next, I traveled to an emergency relief and distribution center where supplies were being given out. Blankets and tents were provided to set up temporary shelter in their own yards or one of the many tent cities lining the streets. Such tent cities are not serving as temporary shelter for thousands of Nepal residents.

Village

We also made and distributed “care packages” with available raw goods at the center. Their contents included rice, dry milk, coffee, chocolate, sugar, lentils, and beans. These precious supplies were distributed to family members waiting there for loved ones.

Young boy awaiting for food with a plate in hand at Kathmandu distribution center
Young boy awaiting for food with a plate in hand at Kathmandu distribution center

My last stop on Monday was at the Chabad House (Beit Chabad), which has done an amazing job in providing not only for all the Israelis in the area, but also other quake survivors. There, I dropped off needed food supplies that had been requested from Israel. I also met with others to discuss how I might be able to help their efforts in the few days I would be in the country.

Before dawn on Tuesday, I left for the Village of Kakani, not far from Kathmandu. A scenic hour by car from the capital, the village is famed for its breathtaking views of the central and western Himalayas and the Ganesh Himal.

Heading to Kakani with rice for distribution
Heading to Kakani with rice for distribution

Two Indian nationals accompanied me to Kakani. These gentlemen were here for the same purpose as I was – to deliver rice to hungry villagers. When I say “rice,” I am not speaking about 2-lb. bags of rice from the local grocery store. Instead, we brought 25kg bags (about 55 lbs.), enough to feed 5 – 6 families for an entire month.Kakani 6

At the crack of dawn, villagers lined up for the rice, each trying to get a bag for their own little cluster. This method reminded me of moshavim, Israel’s cooperative agricultural settlements where everyone has a very small plot of land to tend.

This spirit of cooperation was heartening to see, particularly in people who had gone through so much. Over 50% of the village was destroyed in the April 25th earthquake, but 100% of the locals were sleeping outside in tents because of damage to their homes. They feared that the unstable adobes would fall, and given the reality of aftershocks, such a fear was not misplaced.Kakani 1

While in Kakani, I saw many injured villagers and heard many stories of what they had experienced. Some individuals didn’t find their loved ones for over 48 hours, while some still don’t know if others in neighboring villages are still alive.

After the rice distribution in Kakani, I headed back to Beit Chabad and reflected on everything I had seen in less than 24 hours. The contrast between the beautiful and serene Kathmandu Valley of less than three weeks ago and the devastation I saw all around me was poignant, to say the least. Even more troubling were the faces of individuals I saw at each stop. Many seemed dazed and flat – understandable given what they had experienced over the last few weeks.

When I arrived at the Chabad House, I met with others to discuss how we could best contribute to a village rebuilding project. After these initial discussions, I prepared to leave for the village of Bhaktapur, about 30 minutes from Kathmandu, where I planned to help built temporary shelters.

Beit Chabad in Kathmandu - place of refuge for hundreds
Beit Chabad in Kathmandu – place of refuge for hundreds

Suddenly, the ground shook beneath me – and I realized I was in the middle of another earthquake.

Damage from the May 12th earthquake
Damage from the May 12th earthquake

In Part III, I will share the experience of finding myself in Tuesday’s earthquake, as well as the next stage of relief efforts.

 

 

 

 

About the Author
Stuart Katz, PsyD, MPH, MBA, is a co-founder of the Nafshenu Alenu mental health educational initiative, launched in 2022. With his extensive academic background, including a doctorate in psychology, a master's in public health, and an MBA, Stuart brings a unique, multidisciplinary perspective to his work in mental health advocacy. He currently serves on the Board of Visitors at McLean Hospital, affiliated with Harvard Medical School, and holds several leadership roles, including Chairman of the Board of OGEN – Advancement of Mental Health Awareness in Israel and Mental Health First Aid Israel. Stuart is also a key partner in the "Deconstructing Stigma" campaign in Israel. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors of the Religious Conference Management Association and has provided counseling to over 7,000 individuals and families in crisis worldwide.