A YEAR after the first of two deadly earthquakes struck Nepal the Salisbury-based Gurkha Welfare Trust (GWT) continues to help lead the recovery by pouring millions into rebuilding projects.

Nearly 1,200 Gurkha veterans or their widows lost their homes last year and a further 1,000 suffered damage to their houses – leaving them vulnerable to aftershocks.

The charity has spent millions of pounds during the last year to help rebuild the country despite being hampered by the annual monsoon and then a trade blockade on the southern border with India.

Following a period of planning, GWT began its long-term earthquake response in earnest last November.

Staffed largely by former Gurkhas, who celebrated their 200th anniversary of service last year, the charity’s current priority is helping veterans and widows by providing new earthquake resistant homes.

One veteran helped by the charity is 75-year-old Corporal Krishnabahadur Thapa, who served with the 2nd Gurkha Rifles from 1959. As a younger man he fought in Brunei and Borneo – jungle based conflicts where Gurkhas provided the lion’s share of the British Army’s role and reinforced their formidable reputation.

When last year’s earthquake struck, Krishnabahadur initially thought a heavy lorry was causing the ground to shake, but the horrifying truth soon became clear. His home was destroyed and he spent the following weeks in a tent with his family.

Now, after months of hardship, Krishnabahadur is only days away from moving in to his new home with his wife, Belkumari.

“I can’t see this new house falling down anymore,” he said. “I’m confident it will withstand anything.

“To all who helped us and the good people who have made this possible for us, I say thank you from the bottom of my heart.

“I will remember your kindness for as long as there is breath in my body.”

By the end of April, around 150 such homes will be completed, while hundreds more are under construction.

As well as rehousing Gurkha veterans and widows, GWT’s response will include building hundreds of water projects, schools and community centres in affected villages over the coming years.

For further information on GWT’s work, visit gwt.org.uk/earthquake