Climate inequality hits the poorest hardest
Among the many people I encountered while reporting on the aftermath of devastating floods in Nepal late last month, 23-year-old Tamang was particularly unforgettable. The eldest of five siblings, Tamang lost his parents at a young age and had long acted as the head of the family. Then a glacial lake outburst flood took all four of his younger siblings, whom he had raised almost like his own…
The recent floods in Nepal have exposed the stark climate inequality that plagues the world's poorest communities. For 23-year-old Tamang, the disaster took an unimaginable toll. As the eldest of five siblings, Tamang had been the caretaker for his parents after their early demise and later for his four younger siblings, whom he treated as his own children.
However, the devastating glacial lake outburst claimed the lives of not only his younger siblings but also the youngest, a frail girl found two days after the flood in Chitwan, a 200-kilometer detour from their hometown in Nuwakot. While Tamang's sister's body was eventually recovered, the fates of the other three remain shrouded in mystery.
One of his younger brothers, who worked at a hydropower plant in Rasuwa, was believed to have perished in the flood, joining countless other workers who were unable to escape the relentless surge of water. Unable to locate his siblings, Tamang was faced with the heart-wrenching reality that he could no longer wait and decided to hold a memorial service to honor their memory.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- Climate inequality hits the poorest hardest koreatimes.co.kr
