Porters' problems
IMAGINE... carrying a heavy load up and down the mountains, all day long, day after day in all sorts of weather, sometimes
only equipped with flip-flops for footwear and a plastic bag as protection from the rain...
Trekking porters are often from the lower valleys. They frequently have to carry heavy loads in remote areas, sometimes
higher than many base camps (well over 5000 meters) and with the potential for severe weather.
Do you know that porters suffer from more accidents and illness than Western trekkers? Every year, trekking porters die
unnecessarily in the mountains.They may be affected by frostbite, accidents or injuries that may render them unable to work.
Can you imagine the difficulties faced by dependents if a porter dies or can no longer work? There is no government social
security in trekking countries other than family.
Trekking porters are found
mainly in Nepal but also in Pakistan, Peru and other South American
countries, Tanzania, and Papua New Guinea. Although their life and
the conditions of their work is different from one country to another,
they all share similar problems:
- Lack of appropriate clothing and footwear
- Lack of appropriate shelter
- Lack of appropriate food
- Lack of appropriate medical care
- Lack of insurance
Apart from the above, life threatening issues porters also face are lack of education
on mountain safety, environmental issues and hygiene/HIV/STDs.
They also can experience homesickness when they are gone for months on end and
may be more prone to gambling and binge drinking as a result.
They are often the meat in the sandwich of political upheavals and are usually
discriminated against through race, social position or religious caste.
Exploitation, often by their fellow countrymen, can mean poor wages and overloading.
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