Nepal - Starting to Rebuild?

Although the news coming out of Nepal has been bad, with a 7.3 magnitude quake coming just 2 weeks after the 7.9 jolt and aftershocks, there seems to be some hope that things are starting to enter the rebuilding phase.

Of course, Nepal is a poor country, and it's not just a matter of bringing in the heavy machinery.  There is very little of that kind of thing available.  What seems to work best, and perhaps the only way to get things done, is muscle power.

The Nepali Times had a series of pictures showing the destruction but also the spirit of the Nepalese people.  Some pictures here, and here, with another story about homelessness here.

Despite this kind of news, one western mountaineering group in Nepal at the time has decided to get busy and help out.  It's available on Facebook under #rebuildnepal.

There are a number of photos of the quake aftermath on this Facebook page.  As the poster put it:

 "If you want to help Nepal, then do not be afraid to visit Nepal.The 7.9-magnitude quake laid waste to large swaths of Nepal’s capital Kathmandu (including several iconic heritage sites) and entire villages across the countryside have been flattened, but companies and officials alike insist visiting the country is now more important than ever.The quake came during Nepal’s summer trekking season, and its aftermath and gradual recovery will undoubtedly affect this year’s peak autumn trekking expeditions beginning in September. The streets are empty. No one is buying anything, renting rooms, booking treks, or making reservations for the near future. While we help #rebuildNepal....... we need people to come see it. It is still a beautiful, and vibrant country with so much to offer. http://www.morethansport.org/partner/nepalrelief

There are several organizations that are accepting donations to help in the rebuilding process.  One more that I've discovered recently is: Kina.org - programs to help girls in poor parts of Nepal (and their families).

In addition to the Red Cross and UNICEF, there is also OXFAM Canada.

Finally, there is this article about how (and how not) to help.

[Update] - Two good videos:  Kathmandu: Before the Quake and Nepal: After the Quake.

[Update] - An article from the Nepali Times about the fall in tourism, even in parts of Nepal (like Pokhara) that weren't affected by the quake.