The plight of the people of Nepal, whose country was devastated by an earthquake, may have slipped from the headlines but the relief efforts have not lost momentum.
James Lamb of Falkland, who was at Kathmandu airport on April 25 when the country’s worst earthquake for 80 years struck, is one of those pushing to ensure aid gets through to the most needy.
On his last trip he had spent a month in the Mount Everest National Park leading a photographic tour and filming for television’s The Adventure Show.
This week he is heading back to the country to see how the people are faring as they attempt to rebuild their lives and communities.
Recently Mr Lamb met with MSP John Swinney in Perth to discuss the situation and to accept £5,000 of vital tents and sleeping bags which Alex Tigh of Mountain Supplies in Perth had convinced suppliers Vango and Rab to donate.
It was also an opportunity for Mr Lamb to meet members of the Nepalese community including Bhola Khanal of the Everest Inn in Perth.
Mr Lamb has supported efforts by all the restaurants in the chain across the country in raising a considerable sum to assist in Nepal.
A major aid contribution is made through Tengboche Trekking, a non-profit-making partnership between the monks of Tengboche Monastery in Nepal and Mr Lamb.
It promotes sustainable tourism through treks and photo tours, using profits to provide help through the Little Sherpa Foundation for local families who have lost a family member due to a climbing incident.
Mr Lamb said that in April last year 16 sherpas were killed in an avalanche, leaving 54 children without a father and most of the families with no income.
Some 50 scholarships keeping children in education have been made possible through the partnership, but the earthquake changed priorities.
“Because of the earthquake, funds have been diverted into rebuilding,” said Mr Lamb.
Mr Lamb said the situation was still desperate with families forced to share tents or seek refuge in unstable and dangerous buildings.
He was appreciative of the support of the public in Scotland which will help efforts to build shelter for the shattered communities.
Mr Lamb’s last trip to Nepal will feature on The Adventure Show on BBC2 on Sunday at 7pm and he will be doing more filming for the programme on his forthcoming trip.
For more information or to donate go to www.tengbochetrekking.com and www.thelittlesherpafoundation.com.