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Nepal |
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Conveying Master’s Love to Landslide and
Flood Victims
By Nepal News Group (Originally in Nepali)
From mid-2009 to early 2010, Nepal endured severe
floods that brought much devastation and hardship to the people.
With Supreme Master Ching Hai’s loving contribution of
approximately US$30,000, our relief team from Kathmandu went
to the flood stricken areas four times to provide aid and bring
Master’s love to those in great need.
Sankhuwasabha District
On July 26, massive landslides induced by deforestation
and torrential monsoon rains struck Tamku Village in Nepal’s
Sankhuwasabha District. As a local river swelled, causing earth
and rocks to carry away four homes, thirteen residents including
children and the elderly lost their lives and some 200 people
were affected.
With the help of local officials, police and the
Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS), on August 9, Kathmandu Association
members travelled to this area, a three-to four-day journey
by foot, and distributed relief supplies to the villagers who
were on the verge of starvation. They also participated in the
local rescue work and gave financial aid to a young girl who
had lost her family.
Ms. Usha Karki and Mr. Mahesh Thapaliya, the district
President and Vice President of the Nepali Congress, along with
Mr. Sher Bahadur, secretary of the community’s NRCS, sincerely
thanked Master for Her help. Acting Chief District Officer Mr.
Rajendra Sigdel, a vegetarian, wrote a letter of appreciation,
saying, “We are deeply grateful for such a blessing
in a tragic moment like this. This unexpected magic of love
has filled our hearts with happiness, love and hope at a time
when we are unstable in our grief and suffering.”
National media such as Kantipur Television reported
on our Association’s relief activities, commenting that
it was the first help the victims had received since the disaster.
Letters of appreciation from the NRCS
Jhapa and the Sankhuwasabha District Administration Office,
Government of Nepal Home Ministry for Master’s contributions
Jhapa District
From August 19 to 21, heavy rain in the Jhapa District
started flash flooding that swept away hundreds of homes, displaced
28,435 residents, and destroyed farm lands. Seven people lost
their lives, one was declared missing, and hundreds had to climb
up trees or onto rooftops to save themselves. The army and local
police came to the rescue in boats, and organizations such as
the NRCS provided enough food for one or two days.
Finding that other groups were helping victims in
easily accessible areas, our Kathmandu relief team brought much
needed materials to approximately 813 displaced families in
more remote areas on August 25. They also handed out SOS and
Alternative Living flyers, explained to people the link between
meat eating and global warming associated disasters as well
as introduced them to Supreme Master Ching Hai.
Everyone was extremely happy and thankful to Master
for Her help, and local newspapers such as the Jhapa Post and
Pratidin reported on our Association’s work.
The Pratidin National Daily and Jhapa Post newspapers
covered the Association’s relief work in Jhapa.
Bajhang, Achham and Dadeldhura Districts
From October 4 to 6, heavy rains triggered more floods
and landslides in far western Nepal, resulting in many lost
lives and thousands displaced. Due to poor road conditions and
swollen rivers in the area, it was difficult for the army, police
and other groups to distribute relief materials. Our Association
members traveled to the Bajhang District on October 16, and
with the help of Agriculture Development Officer Mr. Prakash
Poudel, Chief District Officer Mr. Rajesh Poudel and others,
the team gave rice, pulses and cooking oil to the villagers
as well as envelopes of cash to the bereaved and to families
most in need. On behalf of the recipients, Mr. Prakash Poudel
extended his deep appreciation to Supreme Master Ching Hai for
her kind support. The Bajhang District Office of the Nepal Red
Cross Society also thanked Master for Her aid.
A month later, Master sent additional funds and asked
our Nepal Association members to continue the relief work in
the Achham District. Arriving on November 18, they learned that
hundreds of houses in the area had been destroyed and approximately
18 people had lost their lives due to the flooding. After purchasing
relief items with the assistance from local police official
Mr. Dev Bahadur Kunwar, the team spent the next few days distributing
the supplies and offering cash to bereaved families in Achham
and the nearby district of Dadeldhura. The aid was gratefully
accepted and local officials sent Supreme Master Ching Hai letters
thanking Her for Her generosity and compassion.
Mahottari District
The first week of January 2010 brought severe cold
temperatures to the southern Nepalese plains. Most vulnerable
were the poor, aged, sick and homeless, who were not prepared
for the extreme weather. Sadly, at least 20 people lost their
lives in the freezing conditions and hospitals were overwhelmed
by a surge of patients with cold-related illnesses.
At Master’s request, our local Association
members formed a relief team and traveled to the Mahottari District,
where they bought and distributed 543 blankets to 536 grateful
households with Master’s US$5,000 funds. The team worked
in cooperation with members of the Nepal Red Cross Society,
who later sent a letter to Master, expressing their heartfelt
thanks.
We deeply appreciate the efforts of the officials
and personnel working to protect and treat those affected by
the severe weather conditions in Nepal. May Heaven bless the
victims with a quick recovery and may such events decrease in
number through our greater consideration of each other and the
environment.
Thank you letters from the NRCS Bajhang, the Bajhang District
Administration Office, Government of Nepal Home Ministry, and
Achham Police Station
(Originally in Nepali)
Expenditures by Supreme Master Ching Hai for Landslide,
Flood and Freezing Weather Relief Work in Nepal
Description |
Amount (NPR) |
Receipt |
Food
(rice, bananas, vegetable oil, salt, water, pulses, etc.)
and relief supplies (candles, slippers, tents, blankets,
mosquito nets, etc.) |
1,702,076 |
A |
Cash
contribution to the bereaved and elderly |
116,850 |
B |
Relief
team members’ transportation, food and accommodations |
385,030 |
C |
Total |
NPR2,203,956
(US$28,826) |
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To view the Humanitarian Relief
Activities by the Supreme Master Ching Hai and Her International
Association, please visit:
http://www.GodsDirectContact.org.tw/humanitarian
(The list can be sorted by year, country/region and type
of events.) |
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