A SOUTHSIDE man caught up in the terror of the Nepal earthquake has described the moment the first
‘quake hit.
Eoin Cuneen, from Blackrock, is still in the country, fundraising for those affected by last month’s devastating earthquake, even as a second quake hit on May 13.
Eoin and his friend Justin Cava-Jones were descending from Everest Base Camp when the first earthquake struck in Nepal last month.
“It was terrifying,
? Eoin recalled.
“We heard screams from the valley below before watching the path in front of us being swallowed up by the earth.
“We saw villages reduced to rubble.
?
After making it safely back to Kathmandu, the pair set up a GoFundMe campaign – called the Nepal Arts of Kindess Collective – to help provide immediate aid and support to those in desperate need.
The friends have been distributing aid by hand after raising over £28,000 (GBP) of their £50,000 target in just over a week.
“Since returning to Kathmandu we’ve seen death and destruction everywhere and a country so wounded that desperate help is needed,
? Eoin stated.
“Fear is running high and an already impoverished, and beautiful country is more vulnerable than ever before as people sleep rough without food, water and sometimes even shelter.
?
On one visit to the remote village of Thanpal Dhap, Eoin said the aftermath of the disaster resembled a nuclear fallout.
“Of 390 houses, only seven remained precariously standing,
? he said.
“At least 140 had died. We spoke to a four-year-old girl who had lost her sister, grandmother and aunt.
“Many others lost several family members. Though the community had been decimated, we saw glimmers of hope as kids began to laugh and play amongst the rubble.
“We saw extraordinary fortitude and resilience as the elders of the village told us that while their hearts had been broken, they were doing everything they could to put a brave face on, to try to return to some level of normality.
?
Then, just as the country was starting to recover from the initial shock, another quake hit.
“While we’re so pleased to see some signs of normality returning over the past few days, all that was shattered as a further 7.3 quake hit on May 13, only 20km from our primary relief zone,
? he explained.
“Fear and panic returned. As we travelled back to Kathmandu we saw locals leave whatever homes remained standing to seek refuge in parks and open areas, many of whom had no tents or shelter.
?
Eoin has said that that all donations to their
‘Acts of Kindness Collective’ fund will be exclusively used to buy supplies that they will distribute, by hand, directly to those most in need.
Kelsea Little, Media Director at GoFundMe.com, said the Acts of Kindness Collective campaign is one of the largest started for Nepal earthquake relief.
“It has been an incredible experience to see such generous people come together on GoFundMe to help those affected by the terrible earthquakes in Nepal,
? she said.
“Site-wide, over $4.4 million (USD) has been raised for Nepal Earthquake relief, across 875 campaigns.
GoFundMe has quickly become the world’s most popular fundraising website for personal causes and life events, raising more than $840 million (USD) since its launch in May 2010.