Varnek?
November 29, 2010
Vaigach
Varnek is a tiny village on a tiny island at the very top of the world. We will be leaving Canada en route to Varnek December 5th.
The island of Vaigach is considered to be a “holy island”, a “Mecca” of sorts. A place where aborigines from all accross the north make pilgrimage to sacrifice and worship their idols – asking permission to hunt and fish.
The island is considered so sacred that only gods could be here, and that human beings, who dared to step on this land, had to die.
During the time of Stalin, political prisoners were sent to labour camps on the island to build and work zinc and lead mines. After five years the mines were flooded and closed – surviving prisoners were sent elsewhere to work on railways.
When they started testing nuclear bombs in Novaya Zemlya (New Land), those living there were moved to Vaigach island. The island has only one community, called Varnek, which consists of 23 houses (only 18 are inhabited) and one street — Sea Street (Morskaya).
The wooden houses were built in 1950′s. Each family has a kitchen and a 5-square-meter room. For water — melted snow. The houses are heated by the coal and the fire-wood, even though the area is leading in the natural gas extraction. And because trees don’t grow there, wood is extremely valuable.
In spring time the residents search for wooden logs along the sea shore brought in by waves.
There are only four TV’s on the island, as the community antenna got rotten five years ago. There is no radio, no newspapers. A helicopter comes here once a month, and at times – only or once every two months. The State doesn’t help in any way. This community is by far, one of the most remote and isolated communities in the world.
The average life-span of a Varnek native is 33 years.
So why would we go? With a travel price-tag in the 10′s of thousands of dollars for each of us – not to mention the great physical risk and demands, why would we care?
Perhaps the question is best answered with a question. What is the value of a life?
When we heard of the people of Varnek and their plight – we knew we had to go.
TrueNorthAid will be supplying medical and dental care along with food and supplies to help the people of Varnek through the unforgiving winter.
We can’t do this without your help. Please consider being a part of this monumental humanitarian effort.
A gift of any amount will help.
A donation of $20.00 will purchase one first aid kit which will be left at every home.
