Two local mountaineers who have extensive experience of Nepal have had success in securing support for the country, which is badly affected by Covid-19.

Lake Hāwea mountaineer and mountain guide Lydia Bradey wrote to Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta on Tuesday (May 18) petitioning her to extend the assistance offered to India, via the Red Cross, to Nepal.

“Nepal is equally badly affected per capita as India. It is a much poorer and less organised country than India and has a markedly less developed health and medical system, with no governmental aid for the poor. Nepal needs help,” Lydia wrote, adding that hospitals, oxygen and resources are “totally overstretched”.

Lydia pointed out New Zealand’s long and strong association with Nepal, beginning with Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary’s ascent of Everest in 1953. 

Hillary and his colleagues began the Himalayan Trust, which continues to build schools and hospitals in the mountain regions. Other New Zealanders have since established smaller agencies which look after regions or villages in Nepal suffering from hardship. 

Lydia said Nepalis greet New Zealanders with “extra warmth borne of this history”, and said it would be “an honour to be able to reach out, connect, and in time of need, provide aid”. 

Just a few days later (Friday May 21), Nanaia Mahutu tweeted that the government has committed $1M to Nepal.

Nanaia Mahuta’s tweet followed Lydia’s request for support. IMAGE: Supplied

“Pleased to commit $1m to support Nepal in their Covid-19 response that will go to UNICEF to help with emerging health needs and community resilience. NZ and Nepal have a special relationship dating back to Sir Ed Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay,” her tweet read.

A week ago, Wanaka mountain guide Guy Cotter, who owns guiding company Adventure Consultants, was interviewed by Kim Hill on Radio New Zealand, about what is happening in Nepal and how New Zealanders can help.

Despite Covid-19 cases spreading through the Everest Base Camp, the Nepali government has this season issued a record number of climbing permits in an attempt to boost tourism revenue after the 2020 climbing season was suspended.

Guy and partner Suze Kelly put Adventure Consultants into “hibernation” last year.

Guy Cotter PHOTO: Supplied

Guy talked to Kim about the impact of the virus on the Sherpa community, which is already experiencing hardship.

The first wave of Covid-19 through India hit Nepal a month later; and the second wave this year has hit Nepal very hard, Guy said: “...they're suffering terribly."

More than 400,000 cases reported of Covid-19 have been reported in Nepal and more than 4500 people have reportedly died of the virus.

There are a few options for locals who would like to support people in Nepal directly, Guy said.

Adventure Consultants established the Sherpa Future Fund in response to the Khumbu Glacier avalanche in 2014, the Nepal earthquake and subsequent Base Camp avalanche in 2015. The company lost nine Sherpa staff members, and the fund was established to provide ongoing support in rebuilding the lives of the families left behind and providing education for their children.

Guy also recommended the Himalayan Trust, Unicef, and Hope and Challenge - which feeds more than 1000 needy people a day in Kathmandu.