Posted: Dec 05, 2005 04:09 pm EST
(K2Climb.net) “Quake affected Kashmir has been experiencing heavy snowfall since November 29,” an ADEPT spokesperson reports. “The rising carpet of snow is now threatening to swallow the hundreds of fragile, makeshift sheds and tents that the quake’s survivors built after their homes here were reduced to rubble.”

Donated tents not adequate for Himalayan winter

“A UN official reported last week that 90% of the tents distributed so far are unsuitable for the Himalayan winter. After the snowfall, the temporary shelters, built of tin sheets distributed by relief agencies, have been turned into freezer boxes. Men have been posted on duty to clear the snow from roofs from time to time, to prevent them from collapsing under the weight of the snow.”

“The border areas of Karnah in Baramulla, Gurez, and Sadhna Pass, which connects Tangdhar with the rest of Kashmir, were buried under more than 2 feet of snow, cutting off villages for around five days. The road was finally cleared yesterday, giving a window of relief to the hamlets stranded on it.”

Volunteers still waiting for permission

ADEPT sent out a tentative request for help from the climbing community on November 1. Dr. Gauthamadas, Director of ADEPT, says that so far more than 50 experienced climbers have volunteered to join the team. The plan is to organize the climbers into teams who will support villages at regular intervals. They will provide necessary resupplies and help medical personnel to move around in the mountainous terrain and cold weather.

However, foreign nationals, personnel or otherwise, cannot move into the affected areas without written permission from the Government. ADEPT has already petitioned the Government to allow this life saving mission to enter the affected regions.

The North Face - it's a go!

This same purpose has brought a team of The North Face climbers to Srinagar – and they have endured of the same obstacles as some of their fellow volunteers. But after a long meeting today with local government officials, The North Face Team has now gotten the permits they need to proceed with their relief mission.

The team, led by Willie Benegas, hopes to reach mountain villages before the roads definitely close-down. "Now that the doors are open, we can finally get to the job at hand," Willie Benegas told ExplorersWeb. "We have eight trucks loaded with metal sheets for building shelters for the victims. We should be on our way up to the villages by Wednesday," he said.

Willie: "There are still many NGO's that are still waiting for permits. Until then, their hands are tied."

"Earlier today we learned of particularly difficult, but not uncomom case here in Kasmir. A young boy whose father was killed in the quake, remains up in his native village with his mother and siblings despite a broken femur and several other injuries. All the kids in the family have been hurt, but because the mother is afraid of losing what little belongings they have left, she cannot be persuaded to bring her son down to the main hospital," Willie told ExWeb.

"We're hoping to convince her to bring her son down where there are doctors and shelter waiting for them, even if we have to offer her an incentive to do so." In the meantime, the team is learning first-hand of the situation in affected areas and getting ready for what lies ahead for them. "Tomorrow we're going to the main hospital in Sringar (Indian Kashmir). We'll be talking to the victims there and collecting messages to take to their families in the hardest hit villages," Willie said.

"But we're not the only one's who are waiting to help. While the government has done a good job so far in helping the victims of the quake, there are still many NGO's that are still waiting for permits. Until then, their hands are tied."

First-hand experience

In their latest dispatch, TNF team describes the helpful chat they held with three people: An aid worker, a doctor and a journalist.

”Usman Ahmed, an American born Kashmiri, is a veritable encyclopedia of information about the Kashmir region. He is the head of the K.E.R. an organization dedicated to earthquake relief in the most remote areas.”

”Dr. Chaudri is famous locally for being the only person from his deep-Himalayan village to study medicine (neurology.) He is also the only person from his village to move to the US - he works in New York. He has returned to Kashmir after losing over 20 members of his extended family as well as his childhood home, which was completely leveled. The Doctor will be invaluable in helping us navigate the complex social maze that is Kashmir, and personally knows key members from each village that we will be assisting us in various capacities.”

”Musamil is a leading journalist in a top Indian Newspaper and has covered the quake from the beginning. He has powerful stories about the tragedy as well as up-to-date info on the situation. He was on-sight the first day after the quakes and has heart breaking stories of villagers trying desperately to dig their buried relatives out of the rubble with their bare hands. His contacts reported the first death due to sub-zero temperatures just yesterday.”

Still got gear to donate? Check out QuakeHelp

The North Face launched a gear donating campaign in November, as well as other organizations including the American Alpine Club. For those who still have gear at home and wish to donate, QuakeHelp.net is now picking up where the others left off.

QuakeHelp is an initiative launched by University teachers. They are currently collecting donated gear and sending it to aid workers based in Lahore, Pakistan. At this moment they have 20 drop off locations around the country and will be staging Campus Camp-in Collection Campaigns (CCCCs) at campuses around the country in the coming weeks, according to coordinator Jon Schull – also a professor of information technology at Rochester Institute of Technology.

Those interested in donating gear, or willing to become CCCC’s organizers can contact QuakeHelp through their website (Check info below and links section).

The North Face 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, that includes 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.

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

Gear donations through QuakeHelp:

QuakeHelp is an initiative launched by University teachers. They are currently collecting donated gear and sending it to aid workers based in Lahore, Pakistan. At this moment they have 20 drop off locations around the country and will be staging Campus Camp-in Collection Campaigns (CCCCs) at campuses around the country in the coming weeks.

For gear donations, check the dropping off locations in QuakeHelp's website:
http://quakehelp.net/

To arrange a pickup, or to establish a new drop-off location, email them at QuakeHelp.net@gmail.com, or contact them via telephone: 585-738-6696.

ADEPT is the Academy for Disaster Management Education, Planning and Training. A relief project organized by the National Lutheran Health & Medical Board, ADEPT works on several aid projects - including providing quake-affected areas of Indian Kashmir with shelters and medical assistance.

The upcoming winter makes it impossible for doctors to reach isolated mountain areas. Looking for creative solutions, ADEPT approached ExWeb to ask for volunteers among climbers world-wide. The plan is to organize the climbers into teams who will support villages at regular intervals in order to provide necessary resupplies and also to assist the mobility of medical personnel in mountainous terrain and cold weather. Up to now,
more than 50 climbers from different countries have volunteered.

Climbers, trekkers and volunteers ready to help in Indian Kashmir or seeking further information, please contact ADEPT crew at:

Academy for Disaster Management Education Planning & Training
#403, 4th Floor, 'B' Block, Prince Gardens
40 Thambusamy Road, Kilpauk
Chennai 600010 - India
Tel: 52602403(D), 52602407
Fax: 52602404
Email: contact@ADEPTasia.org
http://www.adeptasia.org/

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