DPA
Ramkot/Kathmandu
Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon hiked though a village on the outskirts of Kathmandu yesterday where she was supporting the construction of shelters for the earthquake victims.
More than 200 houses were destroyed during the earthquake, on the hills of Ramkot, which is located on the outskirts of the Kathmandu valley. Seven people died and many were injured.
“The tremors have caused enormous damage and it is the moment to rebuild,” said Sarandon. “We hope we can all build more homes before monsoon,” she said as she walked around the village.
The residents have been living in temporary shelters built by Buddhist nuns from the nearby Seto Gumba monastery.
A Nepali construction company, the nuns and local residents were now helping build 200 new homes with toilets using steel frames, corrugated sheets, cement board and bamboo parting.
“I lost my son in the earthquake and I also lost my home,” said Saili Tamang, a 77-year-old widow who was getting one of the first completed homes. “At least we have some people who are trying to help us out.”
According to UN data, the earthquake destroyed 160,786 houses and 1,383 schools.
Sarandon said that despite the damage to tourism destinations in Nepal she would promote visiting the country when she returns to the US.
