THEY are forced to sleep outside among animals.
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As a result of the Gorkha earthquake on April 25 Nepalese families are sleeping outside with their cows, goats and buffalos and must live with the threat of snakes and leopards from the jungle.
"Just the sound of thunder makes them jump," tells Jess Bista, a former Taree resident giving her time to help people in Nepal.
"As most people are farmers, they are working all day in their fields and are very tired by night.
"But we can see the fear in their eyes as they are scared to sleep, worrying about more earthquakes coming."
This is an example of the updates Jess Bista (formerly Jessica Richards) offers on her fundraising Facebook page, 'Nepal earthquake fundraising by Jess and Prakash'.
Former St Clare's High School student Jess, and her Nepalese husband Prakash arrived in Nepal 10 days after the original earthquake hit on April 25.
The pair were in India when they heard the news.
"It was quite hard to comprehend just watching on the television," Jess explained.
"We knew we had to go to see our family."
When travelling to Nepal, both Jess and Prakash felt nervous.
"When we arrived we drove straight to Prakash's village, Lamatar where we saw many houses totally collapsed," Jess said.
Jess describes the experience as surreal.
"One village didn't have one house standing, people were now forced to live outside where it was raining most days," she said.
"They mostly just had tarpaulins to put over them which didn't stop much when it started to rain."
When Jess and Prakash listen to people talk of their experiences, they share stories of losing family members and their lives now consisting of seven family members living in one small tent.
"Another family was very worried as they were expecting a baby in a week."
Jess and Prakash have been travelling back and forth from Lamatar to Kathmandu assessing damage to see how they can best help these villages.
Currently, that involves building shelters for those who have lost their homes.
"We have been giving each family 18 pieces of tin (8ft long) which is enough to make a little cottage," she said.
"With tin they can make a better shelter.
"Most will make a bamboo frame and put the tin all around, this is also much safer for any on-going earthquakes that may occur.
"We also give them 25kg rice, dahl, soap, oil, salt and a few basic items."
Jess describes the Nepalese people as extremely thankful for the help they receive.
"These people are incredible after what they have been through," Jess said.
"I'm so happy that we can give them something back."
When meeting their Nepalese family and friends again, their greeting is very sad, explained Jess.
"They say nice to see you again, I didn't think I would get the chance.
"They think that this is their second life."
Jess finds these meetings very emotional.
Jess and Prakash have also experienced their own danger while in Nepal.
When they were surveying the damage of another village, Nepal was hit with a major aftershock measuring 7.3 on the Richter Scale on May 12.
They saw three houses collapse before them. This further set in the reality of why their help is crucial. To raise funds to purchase materials to build shelters and provide other basic needs Jess and Prakash have set up a website for donations.
Donate to Jess and Prakash at this link www.youcaring.com/project-fundraiser/nepal-earthquake-fundraising-by-jess-and-prakash/345338
To stay updated on their work like the Facebook page, 'Nepal earthquake fundraising by Jess and Prakash'.