Welcome to Nepal Now. I’m Marty Logan.
Today is Thursday, April 29th. A few hours ago we started a second lockdown here in the Kathmandu Valley in response to a frightening rise in the number of Covid-19 cases. I’ve read reports that the intensive care units of many hospitals are full and projections that the number of cases in Nepal is growing faster than in neighbouring India, which of course has been devastated in recent days.
Lockdown here basically means that except for food shops and pharmacies — which open only for limited hours in the morning and evening — all but essential business stops. Last year, when the entire country locked down, here in Nepal’s capital within days we saw many people on the streets after they ran out of food. Governments provided some support but it was civil society that stepped up and set up kitchens on the streets to cook hot meals and assemble food packs for families.
Kusum Tamang of Hiteri Foundation led one of the many, many efforts that sprang up in the capital and across the country. Today we’re talking to her about how her tiny organization managed to contribute so much during the lockdown and about some of the people they supported and continue working with. She also has some ideas to better prepare for the next emergency.
If you haven’t already, I highly recommend that you also listen to our very first episode, from July 2020, Community to the Rescue — Again: Covid-19 in Nepal.
Thank you for listening. If you haven’t already, you can like, follow or favourite the show wherever you hear your podcasts, so you don’t miss our next episode. We are on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, where you can keep up with the show between episodes, ask us a question, or share an idea. You can always email me at marty@martylogan.net.
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Thanks as always to Nikunja Nepal for advice and inspiration.
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Thank you to the Association of Community Radio Broadcasters of Nepal and Himal Media for use of their studios.