Aythos

Part 2 of Aythos Nepal’s Emergency Kit Distribution. Neema and Dolma passed out approximately 100 kits packed with first aid supplies, lights, and other materials for use in the event of emergency. Informed by our experience during the 2015 Nepal Earthquake, we also distributed tarps for shelter, which was critical for families whose homes were destroyed in 2015.

Ten years ago, Aythos board members from the U.S. arrived in Nepal, just days after the Nepal Earthquake struck. From the moment it happened, the team was engaged in a whirlwind of meetings and preparation. We met with the Nepali community in Washington, DC and then, upon arrival in Kathmandu, with local partners and friends whose villages desperately needed help. Without these relationships, we would have been like many other well-meaning organizations who showed up to help but didn’t know where to go or how to get there. We quickly sprang into action, bringing food, shelter, and medical supplies to Sherpa and Tamang communities in Sindhupalchowk District. Nothing could have prepared us for the level of devastation we would see when we got there. Stay tuned….

We still remember. Ask anybody who lived through it where they were when it happened, and they’ll remember exactly. For Aythos, it changed everything. We went from an agriculture development NGO to disaster response. Our brave field staff barely escaped a collapsing house then immediately got to work helping survivors. For those in the US, a flurry of planning and packing, waiting for news, and hearing the rumors of friends we lost. When we got off the plane we were greeted by the strength and resilience Nepalis are known for, as people stepped up to make sure help would get to those who needed it most.