Ever since April 25, the earthquake has been part of the lives of many Nepalese people, making its presence felt with small tremors almost every day, showing its magnitude in the ruins and the damaged buildings, and, as people told me, even entering at night into their dreams.

Our Nepalese staff and partner organizations have suffered enormous damage to their homes, and some are living in temporary shelters. They are worried about the lives and futures of their relatives, and their days are full of uncertainties. But instead of focusing on themselves, they are working to make things better for entire communities. Their knowledge and skills are irreplaceable on the Oxfam team, and so is their vision.

Something else that has struck me here is how people from so many different countries and cultures have wanted to contribute to this emergency response. In my first two weeks in Nepal, I have worked and lived alongside people from all over the world: Kenya, Pakistan, the UK, the US, South Korea, the Philippines, Bangladesh, India, Mozambique, Australia, and more. We are all here to use our best skills and expertise to support our Nepalese colleagues and provide rapid relief to as many people as possible.

It is this communion that is giving us the energy to work together from early morning until late at night. We smile at each other, talk about our lives, and never really feel the need to take a rest.

Blog by: Pierluigi Sinibaldi
Photo Credit: Aubrey Wade / Oxfam