Mountaineer says Nepalese face a devastating Himalayan winter without shelter
A tiny Scots charity says remote Nepalese communitires face a devastating winter after being left to fend for themselves with no state aid following two earthquakes earlier this year.
Many families in remote areas have no shelter, no income and no support from Nepalese authorities it has been claimed.
Tents and sleeping bags are being provided by the Little Sherpa Foundation, a charity set up by former Fife teacher turned mountaineer James Lamb who runs the organisation along with his friend Tashi Lama, a Nepalese monk.
James was climbing Everest when the quakes hit in April and wanted to get involved in helping the devastated communities.
He was particularly moved by the plight of 16 Sherpas whose families were left with nothing after they were killed when the 7.8 magnitude quake struck.
Some 9,000 people are estimated to have lost their lives as a result of the original earthquake and the following aftershock.
James said: “A total of 16 Sherpas were killed, leaving their wives and 54 children with no income and having to fend for themselves.
“If it weren’t for the Sherpas then mountaineers like us would not be able to go up the mountains.
“We needed to get vital resources out to them as the temperature at winter can reach -25C.”
Tents, sleeping bags, clothing and financial help to the village have all been donated by the charity and it is now helping rebuild homes and a school.
James said: “I feel it is up to mountaineers like me to give something back to the families of these sherpas.
“I feel really glad about what we are achieving, and the village now call me ‘the father of Phortse’. But there is so much more to be done.”
Murray Kerr, who won Grand Designs’ Architect of the Year, has offered to design eco-friendly, earthquake-resistent homes for the charity.
He added: “These will be the first of their kind in Nepal and we are really excited about the project. We are trying to get the Scottish Government to assist, but are delighted Murray has agreed to help, all for nothing.”
