Posted: Dec 02, 2005 04:52 pm EST
(K2Climb.net) The North Face gear outfitter's response to the earthquake situation in East Asia was fast and forceful. Together with Global Giving, a nationwide gear drop was organized November 18 -23, with The North Face utilizing its retail stores as collection centers and GlobalGiving connecting the group to credible organizations. Next, TNF sent a team of climbers to the area. Led by Willie Benegas, the team is now in Srinagar, enroute to quake-affected mountain areas in Indian Kashmir, where they hope to provide aid within the next days. Meanwhile, TNF is matching all incoming money donations 100%, thanks to an anonymous donor.

"Let us go to help!"

Getting to the people is proving the final crux. The physical task to reach the area seemed easy until TNF team arrived in Srinagar, the capital of Indian Kashmir. The next stage looks to take some time though, pending paperwork, and Indian bureaucracy. Problem is, winter doesn’t wait: Snow is falling, and roads are getting closed.

The affected people are pretty desperate; "In the next few days we will be buried under snow,” an 82 year old man told a Reuters journalists as he pleaded to him: “Nobody is coming to help us. Even God is angry with us. Please help us.”

The desperation is noticable also in the climber's dispatch, as they try to get to the people in the isolated villages:

“We are eager to charge into the mountains and get to work, but are jumping through some hoops to obtain the necessary permits and are regretfully learning that Indian bureaucracy moves at its own pace,” reported team-member Ronan yesterday. “Hopefully all the pieces will fit into place in as necessary tent materials are moving toward us by truck and the red tape begins to lift.”

Target: 12 villages in Uri and Karnah

Before flying to Srinagar, the team stoped over in Delhi, to prepare for the trip and work out a plan of action for the mountain.

“The amount of work to be done is pretty much astronomical and on top of it all the winter is arriving,” said Wilie Benegas. “We have a plan to provide life-saving relief in the form of shelter, food, and medical assistance in 12 villages at Uri and Karnah Valleys. In these areas 250,000 people - men, woman, children, and the elderly are homeless and at-risk for death due to the encroaching winter conditions. Some areas can only be reached by traversing over a 11,000 foot Himalayan Mountain passes.”

It could be too late

“We have to build shelters and provide basic medical relief before the road becomes cut off by snow. We are literally racing against time as the heavy snows, which are typically 6 to 7 feet, have already begun to fall.”

Yesterday, a spokeman fom NGO ADEPT reported concerning news referring to the region:

“The border area around Karnah, in the Baramulla district, is now blocked following two and a half feet of snowfall. The Sriangar-Leh national highway has been officially closed for the six months of winter. All highway personnel have been withdrawn. Officials warned that anybody still driving their vehicles on the highway will be doing so at their own risk. They have also warned of the inherent risk of landslides following heavy rains earlier in the season. Helicopters have now been grounded.”

Stay tuned for more news on the situation and TNF team members' effort to reach the targeted areas.

TNF collected about 5 tons of gear whilst GlobalGiving connected them to credible organizations on the ground in Kashmir who will help distribute the goods. Monetary donations are still much needed - and they will be matched 100%!

"Thanks to an anonymous donor, all donations to Kashmir relief and rebuilding projects will be matched 100% until January 6, 2005 or until the $10,000 fund runs out," reported TNF. "To encourage many people to give, we are capping the match amount to $500."

TNF has also set up a four member team of sponsored athletes led by Willie Benegas, and including also Renan Ozturk, Cedar Wright and Patrick Kenny, to travel to the Kashmir region in order to survey damage, assess avalanche danger to relief camps, and deliver gear to the hardest hit villages.

Benegas, a member of The North Face athlete team for 7 years, has frequented this region since 1993 and took the lead on this expedition to give back to the region that inspires this group of mountaineers to continue to explore.

South Asia earthquake relief - how to help:

Globalgiving / The North Face

Contact Global Giving at:
http://www.globalgiving.com/cb/cidi/kashmir.html

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