Life getting back to normal for families

Equipped with beds, Tibetan mattresses, boxes of bottled water, a table and a big-screen TV, Tsetan Dorje's tent looks comfortable and clean.

Tsetan Dorje is a Nepali Sherpa from Perbin Gadi village in Nepal, which borders the Tibet autonomous region's Dam township.

Since the magnitude-7.9 earthquake struck on April 25, the Chinese government has provided relief for 62 Nepali earthquake victims and evacuated them to Xigaze, the second-largest city in Tibet.

An additional 1,000 victims from Dam township were relocated to the settlement in Xigaze five days after the quake.

The evacuees were provided with free meals, accommodations, transportation, communication, banks, a post office and other necessities.

At first many of the evacuees, especially the children and older people, felt the effects of the high altitude. However, one month after their relocation, they have adjusted.

"We have calmed down, and our life is back to normal," said Tsetan Dorje.

The 44-year-old said his children do not eat much, and his younger son had communication problems because he had spent most of his life in Nepal.

Tsetan Dorje takes care of his two sons, who attend the tent kindergarten in the settlement, while his wife, Methok, goes to the driver's school near the camp.

The settlement also offers free international calls.

"I call my parents in Kathmandu regularly. They are living in tents with our relatives, and they are all fine," he said. "I am grateful for the generous service."

"The government also helped to reunite us with our younger son Kalsang Tsering, and we are really happy he is back with us," he said.

As many victims had worries of getting their valuables back, the government has sent one person from each family to their hometown to retrieve such items.

Evacuee Nyima Voshar said his children were sick due to the high attitude and dry weather when they first arrived at the settlement.

"Now they are all fine," he said.

The 33-year-old said he was appreciative of the free driving instruction provided by the government.

I had dreamed of learning to drive long ago. However, it got postponed every time because I could not afford the expensive fees, he said.

Nyima Voshar has two children. The elder one, 9-year-old Droma, injured a leg during the earthquake and required surgery.

She has been told to rest for three months and cannot attend school.

Each day, volunteers visit her family's tent to help her to catch up on the missed lessons.

"I want to say thanks to the teachers who come to help me every day," Droma said.

Contact the writers through daqiong@chinadaily.com.cn

 

Injured 9-year-old Tibetan girl Droma (right), rests with her younger brother in a tent that serves as their home in Xigaze. Droma's leg was broken during the earthquake. She gets daily school lessons from volunteers.

(China Daily USA 06/19/2015 page5)