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Updates from Nepal After the Earthquake
An additional US$50,000 was recently sent to help support several Nepal villages devastated by the April 25 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks.
The Nepal Earthquake Support Fund was pleased to offer an additional US$50,000 toward essential relief to several Nepal villages.
Initial aid had been offered to these areas last month, but the need was underestimated and this additional grant continues to provide essential food necessities and basic shelter to many individuals and families who desperately need it. This and the previous grant was used to buy tarpaulins (tent material used for the many who are without shelter) for those in the Khumjung area (made up of four different villages), as well as for those in Thame (Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s birthplace).
The grant was also used for the cost of transportation, renting air cargo planes from Kathmandu to Lukla and then renting helicopters to bring the aid from Lukla to Khumjung and Thame. Charok Lama also went along to deliver some of this aid, demonstrating his extraordinary compassion in action.
Between this recent aid and that previously offered, 346 families and 3,000 individuals have been offered essential relief.
Air cargo will go from Kathmandu to Lukla and then helicopters will bring packages of aid from Lukla to Khumjung and Thame.
Thanks to all the very kind donors who have helped make this essential aid possible through your generosity. If you would like to contribute toward this ongoing support to those in need in Nepal, you are welcome to offer any amount to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund.
To learn more and offer support to FPMT’s Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, which will be used for immediate relief and rebuilding: https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/
For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,” see:
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/
For continuing updates and news from Kopan Monastery and other FPMT centers and projects in Nepal affected by the earthquake, please visit our “Updates from Nepal after the Earthquake” page:
https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/
Losang Namgyal Rinpoche continues to offer essential support to those in need. Photo courtesy of Namgyal Rinpoche Foundation Facebook page.
The Nepal Earthquake Support Fund continues to offer support to organizations who are benefiting those effected by the April 25, 2015 7.8 magnitude earthquake and subsequent 7.3 magnitude aftershock which occurred in May 12.
The fund recently granted US$50,000 to the amazing work that Losang Namgyal Rinpoche is doing, through his NRFoundation, to help the Tamang people after the earthquake. The Tamang are one of the largest ethnic groups in Nepal.
500 zinc sheets (for metal roofing) have been offered to families with no shelter. Photo courtesty of Namgyal Rinpoche Foundation Facebook page.
Specifically, this grant will be used for 1,000 tarpaulins (for waterproof cover), 500 zinc sheets (for roofing), and for the transportation of mini trucks to deliver the supplies to 1,500 households in about 15 villages.
Losang Namgyal Rinpoche has continued to offer an incredible amount of aid. Recently, the NRFoundation sponsored a blanket distribution to the Goljung village and offered food to the village of Syabru Besi, both in Rasuwa district near the Nepal and Tibet border. Metal roofing sheets were distributed to two severely destroyed villages of Dolakha.
Losang Namgyal Rinpoche also helped with a temporary residence for the nuns of H.E. Drukpa Rimpoche ‘s Bhiku Nunnery which is in a very remote area of Dolakha where it has been impossible for the nuns to stay since the earthquake.
Losang Namgyal Rinpoche is now focusing on the second phase of his three-phase relief work, which is referred to as RESCUE, RELIEF, REBUILD, by providing shelter against the coming monsoons to those in need.
Losang Namgyal Rinpoche reports:
“Now we are getting more zinc sheets and tarpaulin for temporary shelter, as monsoon is starting soon. We are trying to reach out to villages. When monsoon starts we may not be able to reach remote areas for some months. After monsoon season, we will start rebuilding houses, school and monasteries.
“Due to the kindness of our donors and the selflessness and hard work of our volunteers, over the last month we have provided more than 100 metric tons of food and more than 800 tents and blankets. Yet, the need is still great as the Nepali people now face the threat of malnutrition and disease! The most vulnerable are the children who have suffered greatly psychologically and physically. Now we are also focusing on providing vitamin supplements to the children and mothers.”
Through Kopan Helping Hands, blankets have been offered to about 1,200 families.
The Nepal Earthquake Support Fund also just granted US$50,000 to support the amazing work of Kopan Helping Hands. This money will specifically be used for things such as food essentials, shelter and blankets to about 1,200 families and zinc sheets (for metal roofing) to about 72 families, as well as the transport costs to deliver the aid. Please rejoice in the incredible and compassionate work being done by Kopan Monastery and Nunnery. Please look for a full report of their recent work in an upcoming blog.
You can help the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund continue to be able to offer this essential funding by contributing any amount to the fund.
To learn more and offer support to FPMT’s Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, which will be used for immediate relief and rebuilding: https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/
Kopan Monastery is accepting donations for their ongoing work, mention “Kopan Helping Hands” in the comments: http://www.kopanmonastery.com/earthquake
For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,” see:
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/
For continuing updates and news from Kopan Monastery and other FPMT centers and projects in Nepal affected by the earthquake, please visit our “Updates from Nepal after the Earthquake” page:
https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/
Aid was offered to the 11 most affected districts in Nepal following the initial earthquake, aftershocks, and second earthquake.
Immediately following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, 2015, causing extensive devastation, the monks and nuns of Kopan Monastery and Nunnery (which were both badly damaged) did not hesitate to spring into action by establishing Kopan Helping Hands to help those in need with emergency aid. Here we share Geshe Thubten Jinpa’s recent report about the highlights of the relief offered since the time of the earthquake, subsequent aftershocks, and second large earthquake on May 12.
5,385 families have been offered food and temporary housing through Kopan Helping Hands.
Kopan Helping Hands Relief Work Highlights
- A blood donation program was conducted immediately following the first earthquake by Kopan Sangha in cooperation with local hospital and a blood bank in Kathmandu.
- Sangha members cleared the debris and blocked road around Kopan so that the rescue operations could be performed.
- Cooked meals were served to the patients and the families in the local hospitals who were affected by the quake.
- Drinking water was supplied to the various parts of the city where the normal water supply had been disrupted.
- Sangha members kept the surroundings free of garbage in order to eliminated post-earthquake health hazards.
- Special prayer sessions were held every evening at the monastery for those who had lost their lives and for the grieving family members. The first week of prayer was led by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
- Aid was able to reach the 11 most affected districts in Nepal despite all the challenges and the risk of their own lives as there were constant landslides and the roads were misshapen. In addition, heavy rain poured throughout the journeys and the volunteers had to travel on the back of fully loaded trucks to reach 45 Village Development Committees outside the Kathmandu Valley.
- 5,385 families were directly benefited with shelter, blankets, rice, dahl, cooking oil and other staples.
- 100 large tarpaulin tents were given to the Gompa Preservation and Development Committee of the Nepal Government to be handed out to damaged gompas in rural areas.
- Blankets were given to 580 families.
- Clothing was distributed to more than 1,800 individuals.
- Three days of free medical camps were organized in the five most affected rural areas. They were helped by Kopan Sangha with medical training and other experienced volunteers.
- An emergency medial team was airlifted 2.6 miles (4,180 meters) above sea level to treat patients under critical circumstances.
This aid is ongoing and will continue. Please rejoice in this tremendous effort and kindness! FPMT International Office established the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund to help with efforts such as this and will continue to support the work of Kopan’s Helping Hands. Thanks to all donors who have offered to this fund as it enables us to contribute in this way.
Kopan Monastery is accepting donations directly for their relief work, mention “Kopan Helping Hands” in the comments.
To learn more and offer support to FPMT’s Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, which will be used for immediate relief and rebuilding: https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/
For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,” see:
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/
For continuing updates and news from Kopan Monastery and other FPMT centers and projects in Nepal affected by the earthquake, please visit our “Updates from Nepal after the Earthquake” page:
https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/
Food, medicine, and now temporary shelter is being offered to 5,000 families in need in Nepal.
The Nepal Earthquake Support Fund has been contributing to the work of Losang Namgyal Rinpoche’s Nepal Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund. Losang Namgyal Rinpoche, a Kopan Rinpoche and a high lama for the Tamang people, has been coordinating with Kopan on relief work and leading efforts to provide much needed short and long term aid to victims of the recent earthquakes in Nepal which destroyed more than 500,000 houses and 2,000 gompas and stupas, in about 14 districts.
Providing essential food and medicine supplies to 5,000 families was the first priority in terms of short term aid. The second phase of support, which is now underway, is to help with temporary shelter. Tarpaulin and zinc sheets are being distributed to those who are unable to rebuild themselves due to illness, disability, old age, or lack of sufficient help. Volunteers are sent with supplies and also help to rebuild using the materials provided. The zinc sheets provide long lasting temporary roofing and can also be used for a permanent house in the future. Two bundles of sheets can provide temporary shelter through the monsoon season or until a permanent home can be rebuilt.
Tarpaulin and zinc sheet provide temporary shelter for those who lost their homes to the earthquakes. With monsoon season fast approaching, this short term aid is desperately needed.
The third phase of these efforts, which focuses on long term assistance, will be to help rebuild permanent houses, gompas, school, and other structures. The Nepal Earthquake Support Fund will try to continue to help Losang Namgyal Rinpoche with the short and long term relief being offered as well as other beneficial projects contributing aid and rebuilding in Nepal.
To learn more and offer support to FPMT’s Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, which will be used for immediate relief and rebuilding: https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/
For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,” see:
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/
For continuing updates and news from Kopan Monastery and other FPMT centers and projects in Nepal affected by the earthquake, please visit our “Updates from Nepal after the Earthquake” page:
https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/
Over US$50,000 worth of supplies have been offered to families and individuals in need in Nepal, following the earthquake devastation.
Please rejoice that US$49,799 USD was raised to help those in need in Nepal. For this offering, FPMT’s Nepal Earthquake Support Fund offered US$17,543.18 (1,792,000.00 NPR), Kopan’s Helping Hands Project offered, US$11,502.92 and US$20,752.63 was raised locally.
This money was used for:
- 132,277 lb (60,000 kg) rice
- 1,135 tarpaulin tents
- 13,228 lb (6,000 kg) dal
- cooking oil
- transportation
These supplies helped 5,000 families with their food supply, gave 1,135 families shelter, and provided food to 3,000 individuals. Additionally, drinking water was supplied to many parts of the city during the crisis, blankets were given to 500 families, clothing was offered to more than 1,800 people.
Please rejoice in this incredible offering and help to those in need. Special thanks to Geshe Thubten Jinpa who helped organize this aid. With monsoon season fast approaching, help to those in need of food and shelter has become even more critical.
You are welcome to offer any amount to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund which is committed to continuing to offer much needed aid in Nepal during this ongoing crisis.
You can learn more about the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, and keep up on Updates from Nepal After the Earthquake.
In Manthali Gaun, Raemchhap District, Nepal, May 2015. Photo courtesy of Kopan Monastery School on Facebook.
While the ground continues shaking in Nepal, Kopan monks and nuns continue their emergency relief work in several districts in Nepal. Since the April 25 earthquake, there have been well over 100 magnitude 4.0+ earthquakes. Kopan teams are delivering relief aid on trucks to remote villages and communities in many districts, including people of the Dalit (Untouchable) caste.
Kopan nuns loading a truck bound for Rasuwa District, Nepal, May 2015
One team was on a four-day excursion to Rasuwa District, when the 7.3 earthquake struck on May 12. Kopan Monastery shared on Facebook that the team saw landslides and more destruction to homes. A medical team was traveling with the group. After returning, a medical team member said, “I think what they really need at this moment is proper shelters. Most of them plant their own food and get water from the waterfall, but difficult to get the shelter.” She concluded by saying, “There was too little that we could do for them. I wish we can do more to help.”
Providing medical aid in Rasuwa District, Nepal, May 2015
On May 16, the team returned to Rasuwa with two truckloads of tarpaulins and food, traveling 12 hours to arrive at their destination over very difficult roads.
Kopan Monastery School wrote on Facebook, “We saw so many relief team with huge loaded trucks heading toward this place. We were so relieved that now all the villagers around this area will get the relief supplies.
“What we learned is that Nepali people are so resilient. They looks sad, but much less worries than they supposed to be.”
A road in the Rasuwa District, Nepal, May 2015
Ven. Sarah Thresher shared, “To date the monks and nuns of Kopan Helping Hands have distributed:
List of aid for May 17, Kopan Monastery, Nepal, May 2015
- Food to 5,000 families
- Shelter to 1,135 families
- 3,000 meals
- Blankets to 500 families
- Clothing to 1,800 people
- Water distribution to many parts of the city…”
The Namgyal Rinpoche Foundation, which is the organization of Losang Namgyal Rinpoche, a Kopan monk and a high lama for the Tamang people, is coordinating with Kopan on relief work. They have most recently been sending supplies to Nuwakot District.
Geshe Thubten Jinpa, a senior Kopan Geshe, shared last week on his Facebook page, “Today we were traveling more than 18 hour on the road to deliver the relief package to the most affected area, every house along the road is completely down. It’s heartbreaking to witness these all with your own eyes. It’s 2 a.m. here. We just arrived back home. The road was so bad and the heavy rain made it extremely difficult. We sent for the people whom the relief package is targeted for and hand it over in the middle of jungle and head back, but have no other choices.”
Kopan Monastery is accepting donations directly for their relief work, mention “Kopan Helping Hands” in the comments: http://www.kopanmonastery.com/earthquake
To learn more and offer support to FPMT’s Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, which will be used for immediate relief and rebuilding: https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/
For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,” see:
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/
For continuing updates and news from Kopan Monastery and other FPMT centers and projects in Nepal affected by the earthquake, please visit our “Updates from Nepal after the Earthquake” page:
https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/
21 helicopters were required to bring food packages to 196 families in Solu Khumbu region of Nepal. Photo by Charok Lama.
Nyima Tashi, who is directing this initiative on behalf of Charok Lama Sherpa and Lama Zopa Rinpoche via the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, arranged for 200 tents to be sent to Thame in Solu Khumbu region by Goma Air. Goma Air very generously sponsored this flight as all helicopters, including private helicopters, are controlled by the government and currently not available. Please rejoice that five Kopan monks were able to deliver these tents!
21 helicopters were needed to deliver the much-needed food supplies to families. Photo by Charok Lama.
Each food package delivered to 196 families includes: 30 kg (66 pounds) rice, 5 kg (11 pounds) dahl, 5 kg (11 pounds) sugar, milk powder, 2 liters oil, 1 kg (2 pounds) tea, 2.5 kg (5.5 pounds) tsampa, 5 kg (11 pounds) flour. Photo by Charok Lama.
The second phase of the mission to bring relief to Solu Khumbu villagers took place when food packages arrived by 21 helicopters after delays due to bad weather. Food was provided to the following villages in the Upper Solu Khumbu area: Phurte, Samsing, Theso, Thamo, Mende, Thamtyong, Samde, Thomde, Pare, Humgo, Thame, Thame Gompa, Themeteng, Ytazang, Taranga, and Chyanyakpa.
As Ven. Roger mentioned in a recent update, each food package includes 30 kg (66 pounds) of rice, 5 kg (11 pounds) dhal, 5 kg (11 pounds) sugar, milk powder, 2 liters oil. 1 kg (2 pounds) tea, 2.5 kg (5.5 pounds) tsampa, 5 kg (11 pounds) flour. Food for 196 households to survive for one month was distributed.
FPMT, through the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, is offering US$30,595; Charok Lama is offering US$10,000 and Himalayan People’s Project is offering US$5,000, for a total amount of US$45,595.
A thank you message from Charok Lama:
May 8, 2015: Thank you for everyone who helped us get all the accessories up here, it took about 21 helicopter trips to get everything up here and we will be distributing the next bundle tomorrow. A big thanks from all the people up here to all the supporters and benefactors around the world.
You are one
Others are countless.
Charok Lama and other volunteers helping pack the packages of food to be delivered to Solu Khumbu villagers.
You can learn more about the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, and keep up on Updates from Nepal After the Earthquake.
An injured cow is unable to stand, Nepal, April 2015. Photo by Phil Hunt.
Phil Hunt, coordinator of the Animal Liberation Sanctuary at Kopan Monastery, has been helping not only the animals at Kopan, but other animals in Kathmandu and surrounding areas. Phil has been blogging about this work at Tree of Compassion. Here are a few excerpts from his posts:
Posted May 12
“During the latest larger earthquake in Nepal (measuring 7. 3 on the Richter scale) on Tuesday 12th of May we were on the second day of an animal rescue and assistance trip in the Nuwakot region, one of the worst affected areas from the original quakes. With our veterinarian Dr. Umesh Mandal, the SPCA Nepal, Nepal Veterinary Association and senior veterinary students, we were in the town of Devi Ghat when the rumbling started. People scrambled to the streets and open areas, screams and cries going out from fear and concern for others. A few minutes after the molecules of earth and beings settled people began working out what was newly damaged and what was no longer safe.
“… More fractures, slow healing wounds, downed animals, infections, abscesses, persistent diarrhoea and even a case of toxicity due to a home treatment remedy gone wrong (burnt motor oil smeared over a calf to treat a skin infection). We have seen food and medical aid getting to towns and villages in this area, which is so important, but helping the animals is also of great assistance to the people. They need these animals for their livelihood and they also treat them like family and worry for them. When their house is in ruins, when loved ones have died, when they are living in makeshift shelters and struggling, seeing an injured or sick animal get often lifesaving treatment is a great emotional (and financial) boost. …”
Posted May 2
“In the morning we headed out of Kathmandu Valley to a village where Dr. Umesh has been helping for some time. All along the way the devastation of the earthquake can be seen, with twisted and broken buildings scattered between the lucky ones with no apparent damage, the ones with small cracks, those with deep and ominous cracks, and those missing parts of walls and roofs. Out of the valley, it is clearer still in the rural communities that the traditional mud-brick or stone walls are the most affected as they have little mortar and certainly no metal rod internal support to hold them together.
“… We stop at one of the heads of the village. The cement and stone building is low and modest, even more so now as the entire main living area has lost its walls.
“… If the house had collapsed in its entirety, the cow and goats under the house would have been in trouble. Back in Kathmandu, 13 cows part of a backyard dairy were buried by a collapsing adjacent building. Only five could be rescued. In Nepal many people even in the city have one or two animals and small micro-farms are still important livelihoods.
Dairy cows who survived the earthquake, Nepal, April 2015. Photo by Phil Hunt.
“After checking the animals in the village, the next call is to a small dairy back in the Kathmandu Valley. A large house has collapsed across the normal access road and it requires a detour. Other roads are also blocked due to unstable buildings. The proliferation of four-story buildings means the risk is magnified. At the dairy we check the buildings and animals. Walls came down, but the animals are all fortunately safe.
“A call comes in from near Bhaktapur of an injured cow, unable to stand. When we arrive, we see it is due to another wall collapse. The cow is under a temporary shelter. She wants to stand but can’t and is distressed. I fear the worst. Dr. Umesh methodically checks for injuries and the cause of the problem. Fortunately he finds it is only a broken rib and bruising and slight lacerations on her back from falling bricks. She is given analgesia for the pain and some other medication to help her mend. We will revisit and follow up. She also needs her hoofs trimmed as they are terribly overgrown. Family and friends gather around and are relieved that the cow will recover. A young girl sweeps biting insects from her side. …”
Puppy rescued after Nepal earthquake, April 2015. Photo by Phil Hunt.
Posted May 1
“Another jolt in the night. Those that were here for the first two big quakes are hypersensitive to tremors and confess they are not sure sometimes whether they feel an actual tremor or it is their imagination.
“… It feels like a good day to stay put, hide in a dry corner like the monastery cat Shamatha. But knowing there are animals in distress that could be helped means there is no time for us to rest and makes every delay incredibly frustrating. Yesterday, several Israeli disaster response people were visiting the monastery. They were waiting for doctors to arrive before deploying.
Government officially declared this cottage condemned, Nepal, April 2015. Photo by Phil Hunt.
“… This morning it was business as usual at the Animal Liberation Sanctuary, tending to animals requiring care and ensuring day-to-day operations are in hand. We had to avoid the damaged track and take the longer track below. There is no permanent road access to the land and most things are brought in on foot. Returning, we stopped at a lovely old traditional Nepalese mud-brick cottage that had been badly damaged in the earthquake. The owners were there along with some people from the government. They were assessing the damage and had just pronounced the building as unrecoverable. This decision allows the owners to move on, but it means another piece of Nepalese heritage will be gone from the landscape. It still is such a beautiful house and framed beautifully with many flowers. The mother cow and her calf survived without injury, but it will be many months of turmoil for the whole family no matter what decisions are made. ...”
To read more from Animal Liberation Sanctuary coordinator Phil Hunt, visit the Tree of Compassion news blog.
For more updates and news from Kopan Monastery and other FPMT centers and projects in Nepal affected by the earthquake, visit our “Updates from Nepal after the Earthquake” page: https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/
To learn more and offer support to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund visit:
https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/
For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,” see:
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/
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Lama Zopa Rinpoche doing prayers at Mahamudra Centre, New Zealand, May 2015. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
A second big earthquake has hit Nepal. Ven Roger Kunsang writes from New Zealand:
“The earthquake hit near Everest and Namche [in Solu Khumbu quite close to Lawudo and Thame]. The first measured 7.4, and then there was another soon after. I have talked to Kopan and others in Nepal, and in brief, this is what we know so far in relation to FPMT:
- Kopan and Khachoe Ghakyil monks and nuns are all fine (the ones who were at the monastery and nunnery); buildings have more damage … cracks are bigger in some place, but nothing actually collapsed.
- Lawudo – Ani-la Ngawang Samten (Rinpoche’s sister) and others, no serious harm but shaken up a little. Ani-la said a lot of damage this time in Khumbu area. The main gompa at Lawudo has collapsed … the wall on the kitchen side, other damage also in other areas of Lawudo. Now the place is in a pretty bad state.
- Ganden Yiga Chozin, Pokhara – Drolkar says she and others are fine.
- Thame area … more houses collapsed, so far have not heard of serious harm or deaths.
- Other areas … Tsum, Chailsa and Himalayan Buddhist Meditation Centre … haven’t got updates yet.
- Kathmandu has had a lot of houses and buildings collapse … initially they are saying that there seems to be more damage than the first quake … they say many of the houses that got damaged but didn’t collapse now have collapsed.
People were just starting to get moving again … now they are really shaken up … the reality of possibly more to come is strong.”
Ven. Fran writes from Kopan Monastery:
“We are all okay, sitting in the garden and making jokes how we are now earthquake-qualified.
But it was scary again, nearly as strong as the first one. No more additional damage at Kopan, but in Kathmandu, a lot of half broken houses now completely collapsed. We could see the dust clouds rising directly after the earthquake.”
Kopan Monastery shared on Facebook:
“Lot of houses collapsed and many fresh damages occurred. Kopan monks went immediately to help at a three-story house that collapsed at Kopan, ward 13. People returned back to open places as quake occurred 8 times within a few-hour interval.”
Lama Zopa Rinpoche has been doing prayers with students in New Zealand.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with students doing prayers after hearing about second big earthquake in Nepal, Mahamudra Centre, New Zealand, May 2015. Photo by Ven. Roger Kunsang.
For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,” see:
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/
You can read more details of how FPMT is assisting with short-term and long-term aid to Nepal.
To offer support to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund visit:
https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/
For continued news from Nepal, see our Updates from Nepal After the Earthquake:
https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/
FPMT is helping Losang Namgyal Rinpoche get basic needs to Tamang people.
The Nepal Earthquake Support Fund has been contributing to the efforts of Losang Namgyal Rinpoche’s Nepal Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund. US$10,000 has been offered to these efforts.
Losang Namgyal Rinpoche’s organization is helping save the lives of some of the Tamang people (who are the largest ethnic group in Nepal and mostly Buddhist) effected by the earthquake by providing aid packages of medical supplies (accompanied by medical volunteers), food and shelters (when available).
Each food package includes enough rice, dal, cooking oil and salt to feed one family for one week along with shelter and medical supplies for those who need them. These packages have reached approximately 1,600 families so far.
Packages containing essential aid are offered to Tamang families who need these supplies desperately.
Each truck of supplies costs approximately $3000 – $15,000 ($7 – $20 per family), depending on whether shelter and medical materials are included.
After receiving requests, a scout goes to the area to asses the need and type of aid required, ensuring there is someone in the community who can distribute everything effectively and fairly.
While providing food is only a short-term solution, without this aid people will starve.
Families are desperate to receive even the most basic needs for survival. To date, Losang Namgyal Rinpoche has provided packages for 1,600 Tamang families in need.
Namgyal Rinpoche estimates that continuing to supply food until the Tamang people receive other aid or can harvest their own will cost at least another $30,000.
FPMT is very happy to be able to support Namgyal Rinpoche with these efforts. You can read more details of how FPMT is assisting with short-term and long-term aid to Nepal.
You can learn more about the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, and keep up on Updates from Nepal After the Earthquake.
https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/
https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/
Basic need supplies are offered to the worst hit areas by Kopan monks and nuns, May 2015
Ven. Roger Kunsang released this recent update:
First, I would like to extend a very big THANK YOU to everyone for moving on this emergency relief effort so quickly by offering to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund, which we set up through FPMT International Office. It has already meant a lot to so many villages. This has made a HUGE difference. When you are freezing cold, have no home, are out in the open, in the mountains with hardly any food and water left – even for these very hearty people – it is too much.
Villagers are doing their best to survive under extremely difficult circumstances, May 2105. Photo by Cherok Lama.
Young girl stands next to a collapsed home in Thame, Solu Khumbu district, Nepal, April 28, 2015. Photo by Jimmy Grant.
There are dead people around you: people you once knew, some close relatives, your mother, etc. Then having to deal with the ground still shaking from time to time and not knowing if it will get stronger or just pass. There was always the rumor that another big earthquake was coming, which freaked people out even more. They couldn’t be convinced that this can’t be predicted. And then, no one knows what’s happening about anything.
Even as we were leaving from the Kathmandu Airport, Rinpoche met a friend who worked there. The man explained to Rinpoche that his whole village had been destroyed. His family and home – gone. He said his family has nothing; no food, no shelter, and it is very cold. The look on his face, the tone of his voice … it is difficult not to cry at yet again another heavy story and desperate plea for help coming Rinpoche’s way. Rinpoche said immediately he would help! No hesitation.
Today, the Kopan Relief Team is in this man’s village, doing what they can. This time there are Kopan nuns helping also. It is reported over 10,000 people a day are leaving Kathmandu Valley for their villages. They say they have to go back to help their elders as in most villages iIt is only the elderly and the young who remain. Those who can work are in Kathmandu or the Middle East. Working people have to go back to take care of the elderly and the children.
Emergency relief supplies arriving in Thame, Solu Khumbu district, Nepal, May 1, 2015. Photo courtesy of Tara Melwani on Facebook.
They say it will take another 10 to 20 years to earn enough money to rebuild as none have any hope the government will help them. And of course, there is no such thing as insurance, so all is lost. One stone in the mountains averages 2,000 Nepalese rupees (about 19 US dollars) or could go as high as 3,000 to 4,000 rupees. Very expensive! All the houses are built with local stone that is hand-chipped into shape.
A collapsed house in Thame, Solu Khumbu district, Nepal, April 28, 2015. Photo by Jimmy Grant.
Talking to some of these people really breaks your heart. They had very little before, and now, a lot less. So on a mundane level, you are really helping immensely. Thank you!
Regarding the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund this is the short- and long-term strategy of how we can help.
Short-term efforts involve getting basic needs to as many people as possible.
Short-Term and Immediate Need
We have the short-term and immediate urgent needs of the people in mind. This is food, water, medicine, and shelter. We are trying to support the efforts of the local people to look after themselves as the aid coming in from overseas isn’t reaching them in the short-term.
Kopan Monastery monks help distribute drinking water, Kathmandu, Nepal, April 2015. Photo via Facbook, Kopan Monastery School.
They have to depend on their own efforts. So we are supporting Kopan monks and nuns going out every day with basic necessities for the worst hit areas. We are also supporting Losang Namgyal Rinpoche (one of the Kopan monks) who is the head lama of the Tamang people. (Tamang is the largest ethnic group in Nepal, farmers scattered across the hills throughout Nepal.) Losang Namgyal Rinpoche is organizing and improvising in many ways to get the essentials to these villages that have been damaged badly.
Emergency aid for Thame waiting to be flown to Lukla and then helicoptered to Thame, Nepal, May 1, 2015. Photo courtesy of Tara Melwani on Facebook.
It is really hard getting this done, so we are supporting his efforts by giving some funds to buy essentials. Then, there is the area where Lama Zopa Rinpoche was born, Thame, and some very small communities in the same area. The budget for this is estimated at US$46,000. This could change depending on helicopter costs associated with getting the food up there.
FPMT is helping Losang Namgyal Rinpoche get basic needs to villagers.
Long-Term Needs and Rebuilding
And then there are the long-term needs of rebuilding homes and nunneries/monasteries. This will be where most of the funds the will go as the damage is extensive, but we can only commit to those who we are immediately responsible for: Kopan Nunnery and Monastery, Tsum Nunnery and Monastery, Himalayan Buddhist Meditation Centre, Thubten Shedrup Ling Monastery in Chailsa, and Lawudo Retreat Centre.
Damage to the house where Lama Zopa Rinpoche was born in Thame. Photo by Cherok Lama.
The Chenrezig Gompa at Kopan Monastery was badly damaged. Photo by Ng Yi Zhen.
This is the plan so far as best as we can know. It could change as we hear more. These are the areas that we have been able to immediately help:
- Thame: Providing shelter and food as emergency relief, US$30,595.
- Helping the Tamang people across the affected regions with Losang Namgyal Rinpoche, US$10,000
- Kopan Monastery Emergency Relief Team: assisting the monastery provide relief (tents, food, clothing) to local and rural areas affected by the earthquake, US$5,000
All the above aid has come from the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund. Rinpoche has received many requests for help, but we have not accepted long-term requests outside of the above. We are trying to fulfill all requests for the short-term needs as they are a matter of life or death.
Delivering food and essentials can be quite difficult as everyone is in need and people come from everywhere when they hear of food and supplies are being offered.
Cherok Lama is also helping and he is in Thame area now, directly giving aid and helping organize relief efforts.
Thame Emergency Relief
We are also providing emergency relief to the people of Thame and surrounding villages. With the majority of homes destroyed or unsafe in Thame and the surrounding areas, people are sleeping in the open air, getting wet and cold. The immediate concern was to supply shelter to those who need it and food to ensure people’s safety in the short-term before helping them rebuild their community in the long- term. Other villages in the area are not in such dire need with respect to housing, as most homes are still standing and safe, but they will also struggle with food due to the normal supplies being affected and food not arriving as usual.
Food will therefore be provided to the following villages in the Upper Solu Khumbu area: Phurte, Samsing, Theso, Thamo, Mende, Thamtyong, Samde, Thomde, Pare, Humgo, Thame, Thame Gompa, Thameteng, Ytazang, Taranga and Chyanyakpa.
Each food package includes: 30 kg (66 pounds) rice, 5 kg (11 pounds) dahl, 5 kg (11 pounds) sugar, milk powder, 2 liters oil, 1 kg (2 pounds) tea, 2.5 kg (5.5 pounds) tsampa, 5 kg (11 pounds) flour.
FPMT, through the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund is offering US$30,595; Cherok Lama: US$10,000; and Himalayan Peoples Project: US$5,000, for a total amount of US$45,595.
Delivering food and the essentials is quite difficult as everyone is in need and people come from everywhere when they hear of food and supplies are being handed out. So managing that is hard as people go crazy sometimes due to hunger and cold.
Many are in need of medical attention in addition to basic necessities for survival.
Thank you again, EVERYONE!
If you would like to contribute to these efforts, you may offer to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund.
Ganden Yiga Chözin Buddhist Meditation Centre in Pokhara, April 2014. Photo via Facebook, Pokhara Buddhist Meditation Centre.
Ganden Yiga Chözin Buddhist Meditation Centre in Pokhara (about 200 km/120 miles from Kathmandu) was the only FPMT center in Nepal to not experience structural damage by the recent earthquake. Director Drolkar Maree Court shared in an email how the earthquake affected their weekend meditation course and what life is like in Pokhara now:
Sent April 28
The earthquake was very intense and scary and happened during the weekend course when we were on the topic of karma and the delusions. The quake lasted about two minutes and we ran into the garden, watching the neighbor’s building that was under construction, but nothing fell down. We have some cracks in garden walls, but that’s about it. And there was some smashed tsa-tsas in the tsa-tsa house on top of the gompa.
The next day when we again had class, we had a pretty big aftershock and the students just flew out the door this time. The day before they’d left quite slowly – a little too slowly it seemed though – I was at the back! But after that, they were very jittery and frightened. Pokhara is relatively unscathed. Just a few houses collapsed apparently and only one or two deaths, which is bad, of course, but nothing like anywhere else.
Since then, we’ve had to deal with all the anxious students who were here on the weekend. We had 26, which was a great number, but I think now that will be it for this season.
… And the weather’s been really bad lately, even before the earthquake. Very strange.
Sent May 6
Pokhara is practically deserted of Westerners and the people here are feeling it. Usually, May is very busy with tourists and people expect to make enough money each tourist season to tide them over during the monsoon and winter months. The center is no exception. We need to make enough money during the two tourist seasons to keep the center running through those empty months. But now with all the tourists gone, you can see the worry on people’s faces as they sit outside empty shops and restaurants. Apparently, many people have already lost their jobs as the employers start to panic over income. I’m sure it’s the same all over Nepal, not just here, as Nepal relies so heavily on tourism.
Nobody is sure when the tourists will come again either. Let’s hope that September (post monsoon) brings a fresh wave of tourists to re-energize the economy.
For more news from Kopan Monastery and other FPMT centers and projects in Nepal affected by the earthquake, visit our “Updates from Nepal after the Earthquake” page:
https://fpmt.org/nepal-earthquake/
To learn more and offer support to the Nepal Earthquake Support Fund visit:
https://fpmt.org/support/socialservices/
For “Prayers and Practice for Earthquake in Nepal,” see:
https://fpmt.org/edu-news/prayers-and-practices-for-earthquake-in-nepal/
You can receive an email daily digest of news from FPMT.org, including our updates from Nepal, by signing up at this address:
https://fpmt.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=97e3ebb09472d09e0e699efd3&id=b248a1a45e
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