DAYALOU GATEWAY
Duvets and populations
Why blankets?
In the winter months, from November to the end of February, the weather is sunny in Nepal. However, temperatures drop precipitously when the sun hides behind the mountains. The contrast on the same day is striking. We thus go from around 20 degrees in the sun to temperatures of 5 degrees and less. It is rare for temperatures to drop to zero degrees in Kathmandu. But when this happens, the effects are immediate: in 2019, the temperature dropped to 0 one day and 12 people died from the cold in 24 hours.
The villages perched on the hillsides where we distribute the blankets are not still lit by the sun. So, we reached the Rithe village 8 at 11 a.m. The people, especially the elderly, were wrapped in everything warm and frozen! Many live in houses built of stones and mud, which protect against the cold, but the ground is soft. Sleeping in such a place has consequences on the body.
Other populations, among the most deprived, live in the plain of southern Nepal. In the region of the Terai, a huge cloud, a real screed of lead, sometimes settles for several days and covers the sun. A phenomenon increasingly observed over the years. In this case, for days, the populations are frozen with cold. They live in precarious habitats, even under plastic sheeting, without sun, and sometimes without food, they take refuge and gather around wood fires to find a little warmth. In 2018, during a distribution of blankets in the Southern Plain region, in Saptari, we were able to see the situation of the communities, their clothing was reduced to the strict minimum and in this sector, at that time, 58 people had died from the cold.
The blankets are hand-made in Kathmandu by a serious and conscientious supplier. These are thermo fiber duvets, an extremely light material. They provide instant heat. Lightweight, they dry in a few minutes in the sun in the event of water infiltration. We always order medium-size blankets, namely 175cm by 200cm. The sturdy fabric cover is printed in cheerful colors.
Delivery:
The blankets are delivered to the villages. For the occasion, we rent a truck transporting the bales. Each bundle contains around twenty blankets, each packaged in a plastic case with a zipper. This way the materials are protected during transport but also afterward, families can, after use, put the duvet back in its closed plastic case and store everything until next season. We also rent a jeep-type vehicle to follow the truck and once there we distribute the duvets according to a list of needy people, established by the local authorities. During each distribution, we retrieve a copy of the lists. We also take a lot of photos to report.
Donation:
For this action, 15 euros per blanket are necessary to carry out this type of action. The tax receipt is delivered directly by Hello Asso.
ALAIN LAVILLE
alainpact@hotmail.com
