Nepal suffered from two major earthquakes in the past two months, both over magnitude 7. A 7.8-magnitude quake occurred April 25 killing nearly 9,000 people and injuring more than 23,000 and a 7.3-magnitude quake occurred about two weeks later on May 12.
The devastating tragedies were half-a-world away from Idyllwild, yet this mountain town responded, and not simply with contributions to care agencies.
Matt McDonald, manager of Himalayan Treasures, and his friends Matt Jordan and Hem Rai, owner of the store, went there to offer their personal help.
McDonald was familiar with the country and landscape from a previous trekking trip.
“I went because I could and [Rai] and I are friends,” McDonald said. But they also felt a personal connection since much of their merchandise comes from Nepal and the nearby areas.
Photo by
Matt Jordan
They raised nearly $20,000 online to help defray expenses and to help purchase needed supplies.
They left on the 30-hour trip on May 11. While they were waiting in the Singapore Airport for the plane to Nepal, the second earthquake struck Nepal. Eventually, they landed in Kathmandu, about 50 miles southeast of the epicenter of the first quake.
During his two-week stay, McDonald spent time in Kathmandu and went to several nearby villages where residents suffered significant injuries, and lost homes and other buildings.
While getting settled in Kathmandu and awaiting the rice and tents they would take to the villages, McDonald and his friends met a group of New Zealanders who had just returned from the local countryside.
“They told us about the dangers. Landslides made some roads impassable and aftershocks could cut off our return,” he said.
During these first days, a medical team of three Australians, a doctor and two nurses joined their group of 13. They also coordinated their work with other international aid groups and organizations, including Sir Edmund Hillary’s granddaughter, Amelia Hillary.
Photo Courtesy Matt Jordan
From Kathmandu, they drove to Gogane in the Nuwakot District. After two days, they hiked to Thulogaun in northern Nepal and had to traverse areas where avalanches made the roads very dangerous.
During this time, they saw and assisted hundreds of injured Nepalese. They saw men, women and children. The medical units were set up like a ‘MASH’ camp. “We tried to maximize our help with as many people as we could,” McDonald said.
“The first patient we saw was an 8-month baby with his father,” he said shaking his head sadly. “The mother had died. The baby was listless and he asked, ‘What can you do for my baby?’” McDonald helped re-hydrate the baby, who no longer had his mother’s milk.
They saw many nasty open wounds and broken bones. A woman was brought to them who suffered a broken back while protecting her baby. At Thulogaun, where more than 100 residents had died, many of the surviving residents came for help after the medical unit set up camp.
“They were happy for the first outside help since the quake,” he said.
Photo by Matt Jordan
Despite the physical devastation and human damage, McDonald was glad he went. But he expressed dismay about the future for the quakes’ victims.
“They still need a lot of help and many international groups are there helping,” he said. “They’ll need a lot for years to come. Materials for reconstruction of shelters and food are needed — mostly shelter with the coming monsoon season.”
In Kathmandu, residents were worried about the potential damage to the country’s economy because of the role of tourism, according to McDonald.
Donations may still be given at Himalayan Treasures. They will be used for help and shelters.
