Sending money to help Nepal…

Richard writes:
My lifetime friend Brian O’Bree, Chairman of the 6th Gurkha Rifles Regimental Association, is suggesting that this cause – one of the very many now appealing for help for Nepal – is worthy of your donation.

Brian says:

“The Gurkha Welfare Trust (GWT) has the existing infrastructure and local experience and will be operating in Nepal for years to come to help re- reconstruct village schools, water supplies and so on, long after the disaster relief organisations have gone; and

We know that the money we give is guaranteed to be used for the right reasons, not for staff costs (the British Government pays this), nor disappearing into someone’s pocket!

Two websites worth keeping an eye on for information are www.gwt.org.uk and www.gurkhabde.com.

Please help as much as you can yourselves and do pass this message on to all your family and friends. Through GWT they can be sure that their help will have a lasting effect. Thank you.” Brian

To donate:

• please go to www.gwt.org.uk/news/earthquake-appeal
• also by texting FUND27 £10 to 70070
• US tax payers can make tax efficient donations to GWT via CAF America and select ‘Gurkha Welfare Trust’ at donatenow.networkforgood.org/helpnepal

Your help, no matter how big or small, will make a difference.

This is how the author – who has travelled extensively in Nepal and northern India on many occasions – received the news from one of his local contacts:

People feel totally unsafe and terrified…

‘Nepal has been badly hit by a powerful earthquake of 7.6 richter scale. This is the second most devastating earthquake in the history of Nepal after the 1933 earthquake of 8.2 richter scale which claimed more than 8000 people. Within the last 48 hours, there have been numerous earthquakes, about 90, with changing epicenters and magnitudes (4 to 7.6 richter scales). Kathmandu and central northern hill districts around Kathmandu are badly hit. More than 3500 people are reported dead, 7000 injured and the number is increasing every minute. Historic monuments, temples, thousands of private and public houses, in some cases whole villages, are devastated. A report said about 6.6 million people are affected. People feel totally unsafe and terrified. They are staying out of home in open spaces all day and night…’

Ram Krishna Sahi, who lives in Kathmandu and is another friend of this website, sent these pictures: plus.google.com/photos/102599442304989566189

Another big earthquake!!

Even as more than 6000 bodies are being buried from the first earthquake in Nepal, another 100 are killed and 1000 injured as a further quake strikes just three weeks later…

Ram Krishna, our correspondent, writes:

May 12, Kathmandu

‘Just a quick note that we had another big earthquake hit Nepal at 12:56 pm this afternoon. It wasscaring as it was 7.4 in richter scale. According to the news, more than 40 people have been killed and the death toll may rise. Just want to let you know that we all are safe and fine here but we are again moving to the open spare/open area from this evening, don’t know yet how many nights we need to spend again outside. I am writing you this e-mail wearing helmet and feel aftershocks again and again. Please do pray for the victims and for the peace of souls who are lost in this earthquake. Will update you again soon.’

Ram Krishna

On June 5 Ram Krishna Sahi sent this update:

June 5, Kathmandu

‘It has been 40 days since the first heavy earthquake hit Nepali very badly and there are still 4/5 aftershocks everyday but (thankfully) it is getting less and less. Life is getting slowly normal in Kathmandu but still very bad in the countryside. Nepal is now in probably 3rd stage – rebuilding and reconstructing – but it’s the most challenging work due to the lack of resources. I have been visiting many damaged schools in rural areas after distributing food supplies and relief materials to the needy families in the rural areas of Kathmandu, Dhading, Tanahu and Kavre districts. During my visit I have seen lots of mountains cracked and crumbled and more and more schools have been damaged. Some photos of damaged schools taken during my visits are here.

The situation is very bad, as teachers and students are not in mood to study. Most have lost their homes, their cattles and some of them also their family members and friends. A couple of days ago, our team went to visit the schools of Jyamdi village and Jairsing village which are rural areas of Kavre districts and all the schools have been damaged over there. We have taken them some school supplies/stationary and some sports materials as they have nothing. I can see that most of the students and teachers are still in stress with psychology problems and trauma. According to the government more than 8,000 schools have been damaged and classes are taken in open fields and under the trees.

We need to help more and more schools to rebuild and provide them with supplies and sports materials. You can be sure your donation will be highly appreciated so please donate what you can.’

Nepal is set to reopen all the heritage sites in the Kathmandu valley to the public, in a bid to attract tourists after April’s devastating earthquake. Among them are the historic Durbar squares or “noble courts”, which were badly damaged. Unesco raised some concerns over the safety of reopening the sites. But media reports cite officials as saying the necessary measures are in place. More than 8,000 people were killed and the destruction was widespread.
BBC World News June 15, 2015