On helping fragile Nepal

Nepal is wonderful, but fragile. We who visit it must avoid making matters worse. It would be a fine thing if we could make them better.

Consider the sources of fragility. The country is founded largely on very recent geology. The soils are poor. Much upland farmland is extremely vulnerable to erosion. Cooking and heating use wood perforce, and deforestation adds to the dangers.

The people of Nepal live in one of the poorest nations on Earth. Rural services are minimal. Few babies get qualified perinatal assessment. Mothers have access only to village lore. Children lack school books, teachers and even electric light by which to study. There are few adults who have the insight to guide them through the modern world.

Adults are, indeed, at the mercy of underpaid officials, extortionists and predatory money-lenders. They have neither collective political power nor access to information. The old are, for the most part, on their own. Political turmoil has made life difficult for all. We are working with the the Challenge Network and local NGOs to help with the settlement process.