I begin to experience a sense that I never have before, an eerie sixth sense that comes from gaping at mountain grandeur and pristine rivers, blanketed by piles of debris and the stench of bodies. Death seems nearer to me than ever before.
After a long journey, I arrive with ChildFund staff at one of their food distribution points. As the car comes to a stop, ChildFund emergency worker Aileen, the woman who has been sitting next to me since we left Kathmandu, bolts out of the vehicle to meet a woman she recognises. It’s clear that they haven’t seen one another since before the quake hit. Without a word, they embrace as grief paints their faces and the tears come, expressing what I’d been meaning to all along but couldn’t quite put into words.
Assistance is arriving to Nepal’s hardest-hit communities. Despite what you may have read, it’s not all held up at roadblocks or customs. ChildFund and other organisations are contributing to the relief effort, and I can attest first-hand to the blessings a contribution towards that work brings.
There’s good news to come; but for now, a moment to grieve.
Watch Jake`s short video update from ChildFund`s staff on the ground.
