When the earth shook: memories of the 2015 earthquake in Nepal
"When the earth shook, we were sitting drinking coffee. We grabbed our cups and quickly ran out of the house. It was several hours before we realized what had just happened," reports Thomas Meier, who works for Humedica's Nepalese partner organization HDCS.
The earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 that shook Nepal at the end of April 2015 was the strongest in 70 years. "Only the elderly have ever experienced what it feels like and the damage it causes. That's why the disaster caught the Nepalese unprepared," reports Meier. Almost 8,000 people died - the number of injured was in the tens of thousands. The earthquake is considered the deadliest disaster ever to hit Nepal. humedica was on the ground with several teams at the time.
Natural disasters in Nepal: everyday life for many people
The Nepalese are used to natural disasters. Due to climate change and its location directly in the Himalayas, landslides and floods are a regular occurrence. "For the people of Nepal, it is normal to be exposed to the whims of nature," explains Thomas Meier. He observes: "If a path is buried somewhere by a landslide, there is soon one around the spot. Even after a flood, they very quickly go back to business as usual." Yet the many natural disasters threaten the livelihoods of many Nepalese. "Most people in rural areas are poor and rely on what they grow as small farmers. If the harvest is gone, they no longer have an income," explains Thomas Meier.
"We collect data that we can use to predict flood events. On the other hand, we provide people with the knowledge of how they can help themselves in the event of a disaster."
Precaution saves lives: How training and emergency plans work
This is why his organization helps people to prepare for natural disasters. "On the one hand, we record which areas are particularly frequently affected by flooding. We collect data that we can use to predict flood events. On the other hand, we provide people with the knowledge of how they can help themselves in the event of a disaster. This is done, for example, through special training, such as in first aid, and the creation of appropriate emergency plans," explains Thomas Meier. During an earthquake in the fall of 2023, these emergency plans helped to ensure that the number of victims after an earthquake in the west of the country remained comparatively low. "With the support of humedica, we had just equipped the local hospital with the necessary equipment and developed emergency plans for such situations with the doctors. This enabled us to provide good care for the injured," recalls Meier.
He knows: "The earthquake 10 years ago caused many people in Nepal to rethink. Instead of simply accepting disasters, more and more people want to make preparations to mitigate their consequences."
