Turn of the Basque community in Nepal
- The earthquake that has left tens of thousands of deaths has activated the Nepali living in the Basque Country. In several localities, they have taken to the streets in search of the adherence and economic support of the citizens. We have talked to those who have worked in Eibar, Mendaro and Elgoibar.
At 8:00 a.m., Binod Baraili received the news that his homeland had been an earthquake. He has lived in Eibar with his wife and son for a year. “In Nepal, land movements are common and I thought it was one of the little ones ever,” he says quietly. The natural disaster on 25 April caused the death of more than 8,600 people, leaving more than 23,000 injured. Nepal is the highest country in the world, with great difficulty in channelling aid, and where many citizens have already gone through poverty. It had devastated the country.
In the Basque Country lives a community that came from Nepal. Although it is not known how many are in total, in Eibar, Elgoibar and Mendaro, for example, some 70 Nepali live. At first, according to Baraili, no one could contact his friends and family in the country, as probably the infrastructure was damaged. The images of her hometown were viewed via Facebook, where people were in hospitals asking for basic help from areas where even the government was not coming. He says he was crying at home. Baraili lost a friend.
After all, overcome by the fear and pain of the first moment, they thought they had to do something. Nepal is a poor country and Binod is very critical of the government. “Before we had a lot of problems, including bad governance, now add to that situation an earthquake that has killed thousands of people.”
“So far we were not organized and from now on we will continue to work,” he says when he says he is already doing his volunteer work. In addition to the assistance of several municipalities, they have been receiving help from the neighbours in the village squares, entering as soon as possible into the current account of the Red Cross (Labor Fund: ES90 3035 0050 7105 0004 6056) The municipal immigration technician of Eibar, Binod, has especially highlighted the help of his technician.
The community has worked by shops and houses in Eibar, Mendaro and Elgoibar. Funds were also raised in the Ipurua party and they are convinced that they will continue to work together in the future.
He has underlined the solidarity of the citizens and, in gratitude to the neighbours and neighbours, made the chosen prayer to illustrate the article, writing with candles the name of his country.
