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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/
Shakyamuni Buddha with offerings, Kachoe Dechen Ling, California, USA. Photo by Chris Majors.
Each year on Saka Dawa (Day 15 of Month 4: Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinirvana), the Puja Fund sponsors an extensive array of offerings and pujas.
Please rejoice that today, on Saka Dawa, 15,650 ordained Sangha members are offering prayers for the entire FPMT organization. The Prajnaparamita and 100,000 Praises to Tara are both being recited, pujas are being offered, extensive offerings are presented to Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s gurus and holy objects in India and Tibet, among many other virtuous activities which have been advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
You are welcome to participate in all of this beneficial activity (which is multiplied in virtue by one hundred million during Saka Dawa month, according to the Vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic) by mentally offering or rejoicing in these practices.
You can also think of all the offerings (water, lights, fruit) that are being made in all the FPMT centers around the world, as well as all the practices that are happening over Saka Dawa. For example, the Kopan nuns are currently doing four nyung näs, outside, due to the aftershocks that are still happening in Nepal. There is so much to rejoice in today. Happy Saka Dawa!
The Puja Fund was established by Lama Zopa Rinpoche to provide resources for continuous pujas dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to the success of all the FPMT centers, projects, services, students, benefactors and those serving the organization in any way. You can learn more about the Puja Fund, or FPMT’s other extensive charitable activity.
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/
Lama Zopa Rinpoche doing puja at Amitabha Buddhist Centre in Singapore.
Each year on Saka Dawa (Day 15 of Month 4: Lord Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and parinirvana), the Puja Fund sponsors an extensive array of offerings and pujas. The practices are done by up to 15,650 ordained Sangha and offerings are made to all of them. This year, Saka Dawa will take place on June 2.
Over Saka Dawa, the Prajnaparamita will be recited along with 100,000 Praises to Tara among many other practices. Even after the devastation experienced in Nepal from the recent earthquake, Kopan Monastery and Nunnery are still doing all the practices on Saka Dawa and offerings will also be made to all the Sangha.
Pujas and Practices During Saka Dawa
By 650 monks of Gyurme Tantric College
- Recitation of the Prajnaparamita (three versions)
By the 400 nuns of Kopan Nunnery
- 100,000 recitations of Praises to 21 Taras
By 6,000 monks of Sera Je and Sera Mey Monasteries
- Druk Chu Ma (64 offerings to Kalarupa to eliminate obstacles)
- Namgyäl Tong Chö (One thousand sets of offerings to Buddha Namgyälma)
- Zangcho (King of Prayers)
By 3,400 monks of Gaden Jangtse and Shartse Monastery
- Medicine Buddha Puja
- Druk Chu Ma (64 offerings to Kalarupa to eliminate obstacles)
- Zangcho (King of Prayers)
By 4,200 monks of Drepung Gomang, Loseling and Deyang Monastery
- Druk Chu Ma (64 offerings to Kalarupa to eliminate obstacles)
- Namgyäl Tsechog (puja offered to Buddha Namgyälma)
- Zangcho
By 600 monks of Gyuto Tantric College
- Namgyäl Tong Chö (One thousand sets of offerings to Buddha Namgyälma)
- Zangcho (King of Prayers)
By 370 monks of Kopan Monastery
- Medicine Buddha Puja
- Druk Chu Ma Puja (64 offerings to Kalarupa to eliminate obstacles)
Offerings to Gurus and Sangha
- His Holiness the Dalai Lama
- His Holiness the Sakya Trizin
- Kyabje Choden Rinpoche
- Dhakpa Rinpoche
- Jhado Rinpoche
- Khongla Rato Rinpoche
Small money offering to 15,650 Sangha of:
- Sera Je, Sera Mey
- Gaden Jangtse and Shartse
- Drepung Gomang, Loseling and Deyang
- Gyuto and Gyurme Tantric Colleges
- Kopan Monastery and Nunnery
Small money offerings are made to the Sangha at IMI international Sangha communities:
- Nalanda Monastery, France
- Thubten Shedrup Ling, Australia
- Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Italy
- Chenrezig Institute, Australia
Offerings Made to Holy Objects in India and Tibet
Gold is offered on Sakadawa to the precious Jowa Buddha statue in Lhasa, Tibet.
- Buddha inside the Bodhgaya Mahabodhi temple: Offering a new set of robes of the most precious material
- Jowo Buddha in Lhasa’s Jokang: Offering gold to the holy face of the Jowo Buddha
- Making and filling of stupas and lunch offering to participants at Chenrezig Institute, Australia
You are welcome to contribute toward these incredibly beneficial activities which are multiplied in virtue by one hundred million during Saka Dawa month, according to the Vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.
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.
Participants in Institut Vajra Yogini’s fourth round of 108 nyung näs, Marzens, France, March 2015. Photo courtesy of Institut Vajra Yogini.
“Following up on the success of previous rounds of 108 nyung näs at Institut Vajra Yogini in France, the center started a fourth round in November 2014,” said director François Lecointre. “Midway through this fourth round, almost 600 nyung näs, an intensive two-day fasting retreat associated with Chenrezig, have already been accumulated by more than 80 different people.
“Five people still intend to do the full 108 nyung näs. To make it possible for people to commit to the whole seven months of this intense practice, each year Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Practice and Retreat Fund, is personally sponsoring up to 10 people willing to do 100 nyung näs.
“By starting this yearly retreat, Institut Vajra Yogini wished to help in making one of Rinpoche’s Vast Visions come true – that some practitioners might succeed in this life to complete 1,000 nyung näs.
“The nyung näs are open to anyone who wishes to join them. Some people come for eight nyung näs, some for one, some for just one session. Ven. Charles, who has guided the previous rounds, leads in French, but several people follow simultaneously in English.
“This year, we hope to accumulate at least 1,000 nyung näs by the end of this seven-month retreat. It is great to have such an opportunity to rejoice! Wherever you are in the world, any day and anytime until the end of June 2015, you can visualize the retreatants at Institut Vajra Yogini generating bodhichitta, prostrating, fasting, accumulating mantras, praying for peace, and you can rejoice in that intense purification and accumulation of merit.”
To learn more or offer to sponsor a retreatant, contact Institut Vajra Yogini.
A fifth round will be organized from mid-November 2015 to the end of June 2016. Please contact Institut Vajra Yogini if you are interested in participating in any way.
Mandala brings you news of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and of activities, teachings and events from nearly 160 FPMT centers, projects and services around the globe. If you like what you read on Mandala, consider becoming a Friend of FPMT, which supports our work.
Young students of Ngari Institute are offered three meals a day through a food offering made by the Social Services Fund.
For the third year, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, through the Social Services Fund, has offered food to the school children of Ngari Institute in Ladakh, India. This year, forty children, fifteen teachers, and 15 young monks will benefit from this offering. The cost is $US19,926.
Ngari Institute is located in the Himalayan Kingdom of Ladakh in a small village called Saboo. The campus is spread over 20 hectares of deserted land. The main aim of this school is to empower and enrich the poor and needy remote area students by imparting a combined learning of both modern scientific knowledge and ancient Buddhist wisdom. It was founded by the Ladakh alumni of Sera Jey Monastery in South India. In 2007 Geshe Tsewang Dorje was invited to take full responsibility for this project.
In 2010 Geshe Tsewang Dorje appointed a group to search out children who would otherwise miss educational opportunities, especially orphans and extremely poor children in the remote area, which runs between Tibet and Ladakh. These children will now be able to receive a modern education as well as learn about Tibetan Buddhism and their own culture.
The children at the Ngari Institute are orphans or have come from very poor families.
In the future, plans are underway to build a monastery at the institute. Young monastics will receive a traditional education along with monastic debate classes. There is currently no monastery in Ladakh which preserves Tibetan Buddhisms’ long tradition of debate.
The students follow the standard government educational curriculum during the day and learn about Tibetan Buddhism and culture during after-school hours.
All are welcome to contribute to this precious offering of food to these students and their kind teachers.
FPMT’s Charitable Projects include beneficial initiatives such as: offering food to ordained Sangha; providing scholarships to study Buddhist philosophy; offering grants for social services such as schools, hospitals and monastic institutions; providing comprehensive Dharma programs; sponsoring holy objects: statues, stupas and prayer wheels, and saving animals. Keep up on the news and updates from FPMT’s Charitable Projects.
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.
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.