Social media :: Oxfam GB

Social media :: Oxfam GB

Early return to the UK

Sadly my Mum passed away on Boxing day and so we are both returning to the UK today, 28 December 2008, to help and support my Dad. It is unlikely that we will return to Nepal, as we only have 6 weeks of our time out here to go.
Thanks to everyone for your messages of sympathy and condolences. Colin

Even More Power Sharing!!!!!!

We have just returned from visiting our friends Deb and Dave,who we worked with in Ethiopia and who now live in the south east of Nepal very close to the Indian border, and we have discovered that the number of hours without electricity has gone up to 62.5 hours a week! That means on most days we will not have power for up to 11 hours, Tuesdays will be good as the power cut is only for 3 hours!
Most mornings we will wake up to no electricity and then in the evenings we will be without power for about 3 or 4 hours....and its getting cold as we are now in the winter season.
Anyone got a spare 200MW generator they could lend the Nepal Electricity company?

More Power sharing (Load Shedding)

On Wednesday 3 December, the number of hours without electricity went up from 31 hours a week to 45 hours. Most days we are now without electricity for 7 hours. This is not so bad during the day but is horrible in the evenings when we have no light, no internet, no television or radio and we have to try and read with the aid of head torches. After about 2 hours we just go to bed!!!
However the alternative is to go out to a restaurant, as most of them have generators, and it is amazing how long you can make a pizza and a cup of coffee last.
Rumours abound that this will get worse as the water flowing in the rivers is very low and most of the electricity is generated by hydroelectric power stations. Hey ho!!!!

Good News

This week, KISC, the school where we are working underwent an Inspection by two representatives of the Middle States Association, the equivalent of an OFSTED inspection in UK.
!!!!!KISC passed with flying colours!!!!!
This was very important particularly for American mission workers children as this means that the education and qualifications that the children gain at KISC is recognised in the USA!

Bandh ------- Update 21 November

Today has been back to normal with transport running ok and shops and businesses open. Many private Nepali schools were still shut as the teachers are in dispute with their employers.
The local news web site carried the following report updating the situation that gave rise to yesterday's bandh:-
"The agitating locals and kin of Nirmal Panta and Pushkar Dangol of Syuchatar, Kathmandu, who were alleged killed by Young Communist League (YCL) cadres, have called off their protests following an agreement with the government Friday.

A meeting between the government team headed by Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam and a committee of the agitators that had been coordinating the protests in Kathmandu ended in 9-point agreement, according to which the committee will stop the agitations and the government will form a judicial commission to probe the murder of the two youths and provide Rs 1 million compensation to each of their families.

As per the agreement, the government will also provide government job to one member of each victim family." !!!!!!!!!!!!!

You're suffering from a Bandh.........what's a Bandh?

Today 20 November a "Bandh" was called across the whole of the Kathmandu valley. This is the equivalent of a General Strike with all the schools, and most of the transport closed down.As a consequence most of the businesses also close.
The situation is tense following the alleged murder of two youths by the Young Communist League and as a result protesters have called a "bandh" and have taken to the streets. There have been instances of tyres being burnt on the main roads and it is reported that a tourist bus has been stoned.
I am pleased to say that we are fine and safe.
Hopefully tomorrow things will get back to normal.