So since we had to cancel our field visit, I've been mainly working in the office in Kathmandu, now that we've been back here for a week. There's plenty to do, make no mistake but I'm guessing most of you probably aren't that interested in the boring play by play. Well, I don't actually think it's boring (luckily for me) so if you want to hear more about resilience or gender and social inclusion or earthquake recovery, let me know.
Oh, and update on the fuel crisis. So India is still blocking the border between Nepal and India and hardly any trucks are getting through, just a few trucks with non-essential items, so that they can say they are letting a few trucks in. It's been weeks now that no fuel has come to the country, and all of the roads to China, which were treacherous through the mountains in the first place, were badly blocked by the earthquake. Apparently they have dug out one of them last week but still haven't gotten any trucks through. There are all kinds of conspiracy theories about why India won't let fuel in to Nepal, most of them are related to India trying to bully Nepal and influence their constitution and election of a new prime minister. At the end of last week, we were sure the country would be on its knees by this week if it continued, but indeed Nepalis are resilient and tenacious and it's just miserable, but holding steady. Other than right at the border region, there have been no calls for riots or violence, so instead people are suffering in peace. The "haves" in Kathmandu are surviving- larger INGOs for example, have stockpiled enough petrol that they are running shuttles to pick up and drop off staff each day. I had a delightful breakfast yesterday with some friends from various US government and American agencies, and they had to come to my hotel because they have agency vehicles and drivers (and a stock of gasoline) and we don't, so I've been walking to our office each day (it's close by anyway). But meanwhile people in rural areas can't get around, can't get to work, tourists are cancelling left and right, everyone's running out of cooking gas, and it's just a mess. Not to mention already vulnerable people like earthquake survivors in remote areas, who are now rendered even more at risk, because they have had what little coping mechanisms they had now taken away as well, plus all the aid agencies have had to stop most of their activities because they don't have enough fuel to get around (other than meetings in Kathmandu of course). AND winter is coming. So it's becoming a humanitarian crisis and no one can forsee what it will take to end the situation. I'm leaving this afternoon and it's probably just as well. Our staff are having a harder and harder time getting to the office, and even the hotel has a pretty limited menu. I am wondering how long they'll be able to support the full occupancy of stranded aid workers and tourists they have there.
See below. It's hard to get the full picture but all over Kathmandu are lines and lines of hundreds of white taxis just parked along the side of the road, not able to work or drive. It goes on for miles.
Okay so on a lighter note, one fun and crazy thing DID happen this week! Some sort of soap company was doing a contest or maybe a casting call for a new "fresh face" at our hotel! It went on for two days, and they had the whole crew there- tons of camera and sound people, a whole set, plus "judges" who were scoring the girls, and some sort of production people who were managing the girls and the whole thing. The first day there was a huge group of girls who all had on the same green shirt, and we watched them each do the catwalk thing and then have to pick a card out of a bowl and answer a question. The "set" was immediately outside of my room so on Sunday I was in and out, and keep peeking out the window, and I swear they must have caught me on camera. On Monday they woke up the whole section of the hotel before 6am as they were starting to set up for another day of filming, this time with a smaller group. I was working later that day, so in the end I never saw which girl was chosen! But here are a few pictures.
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