Nepal—Still in Need of Aid and Relief

The need for more assistance increases as assessment of the damage and devastation becomes clearer every day.  The best way our Unificationist community can help is to donate. In a little under three days, we raised $24,035 and that number is climbing steadily. The national ministry team kept its pledge and matched the first $10,000 to total $34,035 raised to date. Let’s grow this fund even further and answer the call of help and bring hope and healing to the people of Nepal.

W-CARP Nepal and The Nepalese Family Church held a candle light ceremony to remember victims of Earthquake Nepal on May 3, 2015. On the same day, Hon. Ek Nath Dhakal, President of the Nepal Family Party and Chairman of UPF-Nepal visitied the Gorkha district. Together with a relief support team, they visited various villages, mainly Bungkot, Borlang, Kymuntar, Pipaltar, Simaltar, Mahadevtar, Ghatbeshi, Airibhanjyang, and Fujel, among others. They distributed 300 tents and rice to 500 families.

“It looked as if the whole village turned into a refugee camp” Said Hon. Dhakal. “We are still feeling the aftershocks of the earthquake, physically and emotionally.” Victims are carrying a heavy heart but are hopeful that people will come and help, especially in the remote areas where people live miles apart from eachother and roads are difficult to traverse.  

Having a tent to protect people from the rain and the sun and food to eat is everyone’s highest priority. Demand is so high but supply is so little.

“I ask again for supportive hands to expedite their service” urges Hon. Dhakal, who will continue to visit other districts and regions with his team and will continue to encourage victims not to lose their hope and be strong to overcome this disaster.

The Nepal Family Party, Universal Peace Federation and Family Federation for World Peace and Unification affiliate organizations along with Unificationist families are networking region to region to provide relief 24 hours a day.  Resources are delivered as soon as they are collected with minimal delay thanks to the 15 teams set up in different districts.  These teams are serving victims with their whole heart at the best of their ability.

Upon hearing of the disaster, True Mother immediately designated $1 million dollars to go to relief efforts in Nepal. We are proud and humbled to have the example of True Parents to look up to in these difficult times. Through their words and actions they have shown us that as individuals, we can make a huge impact on the world. It is a blessing to be able to lend a hand to those in need and embrace them as if they were our own family.

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Hope and Struggle Still Ahead for Nepal

Robert Kittel, A Unificationist on the ground in Nepal, shares stories of hope and the many struggles still ahead

In Kathmandu, a man trapped for 80 hours in a hotel that collapsed on Saturday was rescued by a French team.

Kathmandu, Nepal — On April 30, 2015, more than five days after Nepal’s massive earthquake two survivors were pulled from the rubble of collapsed buildings.

Pemba Lama Tamang, a 15-year-old teenager from Nuwakot (46 miles west of Kathmandu), was virtually unharmed when rescue teams from Nepal’s Armed Police Force and the United States freed him from his 2.5 x 3.5 foot entombment. For the American team this was their first and likely last rescue.

Eight hours later, Krishna Devi Khadka, 24, from Bardiya (from far western Nepal) was pulled from the Janasewa Guest House that crumbled to the ground when the 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal last Saturday. She was rescued by the joint efforts of the Armed Police Force and an Israeli rescue team.

Tamang told media persons that he spent his time praying and hoping to be rescued. “I was lucky that two cans of ghee [refined butter fat] were lying nearby and I ate the ghee.” For water he said, “I found a piece of cloth soaked with rain water and squeezed a few drops to drink.”

These stories are small pockets of hope amidst an otherwise bleak outlook for many Nepalese nationwide.  Another has been the generous outpouring of support from all over the world. When True Mother heard about the earthquake in Nepal, she did not hesitate to send $1 million towards relief efforts.  Her immediate response was so inspiring, that news of it was picked up by online Korean news channels, Newsis, Yonhap News, Sports World, Herald Corp, and our own, Segye Times.  

Still, the country and its citizens face an uphill battle as they continue to recover from the immediate aftermath. As the total number of deaths nears 6,000 the government announced yesterday that it set up a national reconstruction fund and would begin by giving surviving family members $1,400 to help cover the costs of cremating (or burying) their loved ones.

The government is doing its best, but the pace of aid being delivered to the victims is still too slow. One report said there are 500,000 tents sitting at the Kathmandu airport, while only 27,000 have been distributed to the earthquake survivors.

Government officials also announced that they would allow climbers to continue their summit of Mt. Everest if they wanted, although most have already left the mountain. In an avalanche triggered by the April 25 earthquake 19 climbers and Sherpa guides were killed; more are still missing. Even before the exact number is known, this is now the deadliest disaster on the world’s tallest mountain.

Even with initial assistance and aid, the Government of Nepal is still overwhelmed and ill equipped to effectively handle the massive relief and rescue operation. It is estimated that 400,000 homes were destroyed and eight million people affected—nearly one-third of Nepal’s population of 28 million.

The government is doing its best, but Nepalese are growing angry and frustrated at the slow pace of aid being delivered to the victims. One report said there are 500,000 tents sitting at the Kathmandu airport, while only 27,000 have been distributed to the earthquake survivors.

The capital has finally begun to show signs of life. As of May 1, electricity, water, gasoline and communications services are available. However, there is still no public transportation and the garbage is piling up on the streets.

Many shops remain closed as owners and employees join rescue operations in their villages. With each day, hope of finding survivors dwindles, and most of the rescue efforts have become recovery and cremation ceremonies. With wood scarce, many have turned to using beams of collapsed houses to burn their dead.

Many shops remained closed as owners and employees have gone to rural areas to help rescue operations in their villages.

Those lucky enough to have buildings and homes still standing are trying to assess the unseen damages. Architects will need to evaluate the remaining buildings, most of which will require substantial reconstruction in order to make them safe.

A recent BBC report based on satellite radar imagery produced by the European Space Agency said that parts of Kathmandu were raised more than a meter by the earthquake. They also warned that, “not all the strain built up in the rocks prior to the earthquake was released in the magnitude-7.8 event and its subsequent aftershocks.” Since the first earthquake on April 25, there have been as many as 103 aftershocks above a 4.0 magnitude with one measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale, adding to the unease and instability of the nation and its people.

The immediate challenges are daunting and continue to mount, making outside aid even more important. Though the immediate challenges and those still ahead are substantial, the outpouring of support continues to grow. Many have followed True Mother’s example and immediately made a donation.  In a week, your donations raised $17,900 and that number is climbing steadily. The national ministry team kept its pledge and matched the first $10,000 to total $27,900 raised to date. Let’s not hesitate; give $1, give $5, give what spare change you have available and then give some more. Together we can grow this fund even further and answer the much needed call of help, to bring hope and healing to the people of Nepal.

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Nepal Family Party Appeal for Assistance

The Nepal Family Party is reaching out to international communities, concerned national agencies and all people for their support in relief activities. On April 29, 2015, Hon. Ek Nath Dhakal, President of the Nepal Family Party and Chairman of UPF-Nepal, said the country has been in “three days of national mourning.”  Hon. Dhakal has been busy meeting with government, parliament and nongovernmental organizations to coordinate and make plans towards rebuilding.  On May 1, 2015, he will begin visiting different districts to meet and share his love with victims. His first stop is his home town of Gorkha, the “epic center of the earthquake.”

The Family Party, a political party in Nepal founded on the principles of the Unification Movement, has two active congressmen in parliament. “The Nepal Family Party is deeply saddened by this deadly national disaster,” said Hon. Dhakal. On April 30, The Nepal Family Party donated 10,000 kilograms of rice to earthquake victims in Nepal. “It is not nearly enough,” says, Hon. Dhakal, “but it comes from the bottom of the hearts of party leaders and good wishers.” In addition to their offering, all Family Party leaders and members have mobilized to assist in rescue, relief and recovery activities for the victims in various districts.

Japanese Rescue Team from Japan arrived in Nepal, April 29, 2015

According to Hon. Dhakal, Nepal suffered 103 earthquakes over 4.0 on the Richter scale from April 25-29. “The overall situation is very devastating and disturbing,” he said. “The real situation is more painful than the pictures can convey. Thousands have died; thousands more are injured and displaced.  Over 10 million people have been affected.”

“We have only one option,” Hon. Dhakal continued. “To cope with the situation and help each other. We really need to speed up our rescue, relief and recovery activities. Only through team work in service and our love in action will we expedite moving past all the devastation. Let’s help each other as we are one family under God. Thank you all for extending your support to our earthquake victims here in Nepal.”

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True Mother designated $1 million to Nepal

Santosh Kumar Paudel, Family Federation for World Peace and Unification National Leader of Nepal, gave the following update on the situation in Nepal, yesterday, April 29, 2015.

“As you may have heard True Mother designated $1 million to Nepal. Tears well up in our eyes thinking of this sacrifice. These funds, according to True Mother’s specific wishes, will be added to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, used for direct assistance to Unificationist Families living in Nepal and to rebuild infrastructure. Because True Parents have been so well received in Nepal at the national level on numerous occasions, True Mother wants to reach out to the entire nation. At the same time, she wants to reach out to Unificationist Families personally, at least in some small way.

“The Prime Minister of Nepal said [yesterday] he expects the death toll to top 10,000,” said Santosh. “Preliminary estimates by the Home Ministry indicate that more than 400,000 homes were destroyed. That number will likely increase. At the epicenter in Gorkha, 50 miles from Kathmandu, there are no buildings/homes left standing—literally. The UN estimates eight million people will be affected by the quake. The population of Nepal is 28 million.

“We are so grateful for True Parents’ concern and assistance for Nepal—beyond words. It may seem like a lot of money—and it is, yet at the same time the amount needed to rebuild homes and lives will, honestly, be much more.”

Unificationists from around the world are pitching in wherever they can. Dr. Robert and Theresa Kittle, who were in Nepal at the time described the scene, “As we surveyed the village from our vantage point we saw clouds of dust arise from hundreds of buildings falling down,” said Robert. The Kittels and other Unificationists in Nepal are doing what they can to help including giving of their own time and limited money. The rented home of Dr. and Mrs. Kittel is still standing and their driveway and garden have become a small refugee camp.