First of all thanks for the support and messages. Once again it's impossible to get back to everyone right now. As I wrote before yesterday's second quake the situation nation wide was very tense. Now that feeling is even stronger. It is a time when concentration and good decision making with clear thought are absolutely vital.
Landslides, such an issue here in "normal" times anyway, are now very much key to all decisions regarding providing relief for earthquake affected communities in remote areas. It is imperative that understanding these conditions as best as possible is the main criteria applied to how to get aid to these areas. Know the mountain, know the plan. Nearly all foreign troops are leaving the country now so the Nepalese army can function with the air and jeep track space they need. Strength and knowledge on foot are of course paramount as well.
I am applying that thinking to our own aid efforts. It is very much a matter of deploying the right people into the right places, there is no room for inexperience and the non-essential. Right now this means getting the right information so as to assess. It also means action with the right amount of care. Less than a metre away from me I have boxes of medical supplies which will be added to today. I will go in with a jeep driver to get these supplies to where they need to go and that gives me the chance to further assess. I'm hopeful this can be done within the next forty eight to seventy two hours.
The long term psychological impacts, particularly for children, are very much on my mind as planning takes place for the months ahead. R2A is a long term process which takes many forms. Right now it's one step at a time. I'll blog after this next step. Once again thank you for your support, it hits the ground where it's needed. Best regards, Jack.
Landslides, such an issue here in "normal" times anyway, are now very much key to all decisions regarding providing relief for earthquake affected communities in remote areas. It is imperative that understanding these conditions as best as possible is the main criteria applied to how to get aid to these areas. Know the mountain, know the plan. Nearly all foreign troops are leaving the country now so the Nepalese army can function with the air and jeep track space they need. Strength and knowledge on foot are of course paramount as well.
I am applying that thinking to our own aid efforts. It is very much a matter of deploying the right people into the right places, there is no room for inexperience and the non-essential. Right now this means getting the right information so as to assess. It also means action with the right amount of care. Less than a metre away from me I have boxes of medical supplies which will be added to today. I will go in with a jeep driver to get these supplies to where they need to go and that gives me the chance to further assess. I'm hopeful this can be done within the next forty eight to seventy two hours.
The long term psychological impacts, particularly for children, are very much on my mind as planning takes place for the months ahead. R2A is a long term process which takes many forms. Right now it's one step at a time. I'll blog after this next step. Once again thank you for your support, it hits the ground where it's needed. Best regards, Jack.
