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Nepalese Government to Set Up Relief Fund for Sherpas Nepalese Government to Set Up Relief Fund for Sherpas
(4 months later)
NEW DELHI — The government of Nepal has agreed to create a relief fund for Sherpa mountain climbers who are injured or killed in accidents and to make other concessions to the Sherpas, according to an official at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. The official, Sushil Ghimire, said some of the revenue the government gets from expeditions to Mount Everest would be set aside for the fund. NEW DELHI — The government of Nepal has agreed to create a relief fund for Sherpa mountain climbers who are injured or killed in accidents and to make other concessions to the Sherpas, according to an official at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. The official, Sushil Ghimire, said some of the revenue the government gets from expeditions to Mount Everest would be set aside for the fund.
The announcement came a day after some Sherpa guides threatened to cancel expeditions up Mount Everest over the issue of adequate compensation for the families of the Sherpas who were killed last week in an avalanche. The government had earlier promised to pay each Sherpa’s family 40,000 rupees, or about $413.The announcement came a day after some Sherpa guides threatened to cancel expeditions up Mount Everest over the issue of adequate compensation for the families of the Sherpas who were killed last week in an avalanche. The government had earlier promised to pay each Sherpa’s family 40,000 rupees, or about $413.
Thirteen Sherpas are confirmed to have died in the avalanche, which occurred on Friday, and three more are missing and are unlikely to be found alive, officials have said. It was the worst single-day loss of life since climbing expeditions began on the mountain, and it underscored the disparity in risks faced by the Sherpas and by their mostly foreign clients.Thirteen Sherpas are confirmed to have died in the avalanche, which occurred on Friday, and three more are missing and are unlikely to be found alive, officials have said. It was the worst single-day loss of life since climbing expeditions began on the mountain, and it underscored the disparity in risks faced by the Sherpas and by their mostly foreign clients.
Mr. Ghimire said on Monday that the government also had agreed to provide pensions for older Sherpa climbers and educational assistance for Sherpa children, two concessions that Sherpa representatives demanded at meetings on Sunday and Monday at an Everest base camp.Mr. Ghimire said on Monday that the government also had agreed to provide pensions for older Sherpa climbers and educational assistance for Sherpa children, two concessions that Sherpa representatives demanded at meetings on Sunday and Monday at an Everest base camp.
Mingma Sherpa, 27, a climber who works with two trekking companies, Asian Trekking and Himalayan Ascent, said on Monday that the threatened work stoppage was “not a protest.” “We are doing this in honor of our friends and Sherpas who died,” he said. “How can we walk through the same path where they have died?”Mingma Sherpa, 27, a climber who works with two trekking companies, Asian Trekking and Himalayan Ascent, said on Monday that the threatened work stoppage was “not a protest.” “We are doing this in honor of our friends and Sherpas who died,” he said. “How can we walk through the same path where they have died?”
Ang Tshering Sherpa, the president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, said after meeting with ministry officials that “climbing will be resumed.”Ang Tshering Sherpa, the president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, said after meeting with ministry officials that “climbing will be resumed.”
A funeral procession was held on Monday for six of the Sherpas who died in the avalanche and whose bodies were flown to Katmandu, the capital, from the base camp over the weekend. The procession, attended by hundreds of people, began at the Sherpa Gumba, a monastery in Katmandu, and continued to various cremation sites. Most Sherpas adhere to Tibetan Buddhism and perform prayer ceremonies for 49 days after a death; after that time, they believe, the deceased person’s spirit is reborn.A funeral procession was held on Monday for six of the Sherpas who died in the avalanche and whose bodies were flown to Katmandu, the capital, from the base camp over the weekend. The procession, attended by hundreds of people, began at the Sherpa Gumba, a monastery in Katmandu, and continued to various cremation sites. Most Sherpas adhere to Tibetan Buddhism and perform prayer ceremonies for 49 days after a death; after that time, they believe, the deceased person’s spirit is reborn.
Monks joined the procession offering prayers for the dead, and families and friends displayed banners with photos of the deceased Sherpas.Monks joined the procession offering prayers for the dead, and families and friends displayed banners with photos of the deceased Sherpas.
Chhechi Sherpa, an 18-year-old daughter of one of the climbers who was killed in the avalanche, said that she wanted the government to provide assistance to her family for her education. “My brother and sisters are very small,” she said. “Being the oldest daughter in the family, all the responsibility will depend on me.”Chhechi Sherpa, an 18-year-old daughter of one of the climbers who was killed in the avalanche, said that she wanted the government to provide assistance to her family for her education. “My brother and sisters are very small,” she said. “Being the oldest daughter in the family, all the responsibility will depend on me.”
Mr. Ghimire, the ministry secretary, was present at the procession. Afterward, he said that the government would meet on Tuesday with the Nepal Mountaineering Association to sketch out concrete plans to meet the Sherpas’ demands.Mr. Ghimire, the ministry secretary, was present at the procession. Afterward, he said that the government would meet on Tuesday with the Nepal Mountaineering Association to sketch out concrete plans to meet the Sherpas’ demands.