Urgent Appeal for Nepal

Here are some updates from the emergency relief efforts. Thanks so much for all of your donations and support. I'll be sharing more stories from the field soon.

Santa , 48 from Chhaimale has survived the earthquake but lost his grandson and his house. Santa says-‘This has been a horrifying experience. There is no explanation to how much painful this has been. I lost my only grandson. Our house has turned into rubble. Houses can be rebuilt but I can’t get my child back again.

I have seen lots of relief materials coming to the village but the powerful ones have seized them from people like us who actually needs the relief. However, I am thankful towards Green Tara for providing some relief during the need. Until now, Santa’s family has only received tent to live in temporarily and food ration from Green Tara Nepal. He hasn’t been much able to get his hands on relief materials provided by other agencies. He suggested that if any organisation wants to provide support to the disaster victims, they should directly approach the affected people and families rather than government officials and political leaders.

Padam, 35 is from Chhaimale-6. Like many of the residents in Chhaimale, he has seen his house turning into rubble within few minutes of the major earthquake. Padam and his family had received some relief materials including food ration and tarpoline tents from GTN/GTT, for which he is very grateful.

Padam shares- ‘Our house has turned into rubble in front of my eyes. We feel lucky to be even alive. I am very thankful towards GTN for providing the relief materials in such time of distress. Now, we atleast have a roof above our head and have food to eat. He further adds that he is particularly concerned about the children. He says- ‘They are very terrified at the moment. I worry that this experience might affect their health in long term. On the other hand, it is getting very difficult to maintain good hygiene. There are no proper toilets and waste disposal sites’. Awareness and support on these hygiene issues are needed.

Kancha, 40, from Chhaimale is now living with his family in a small makeshift tent after his house completely fell down as a result of the massive 7.6 Richter scale earthquake.

Kancha shared his excruciating experience with Green Tara Nepal’s staffs.-’ Before the earthquake, at least we had a house to live in, which we don’t have any more. All of the cattle we had came under the house and died. Our family is very poor. We don’t have anything else in the name of property. I don’t know if we can ever rebuild the house. All of this has been immensely horrible to me and my family. We are hoping for relief from government’s side soon.’

Kancha told that he has not received any sort of support from government’s side yet.

Chuna Sunar, 66 from Chhaimale-9 is another survivor of the 7.6 Richter scale major earthquake. Chuna’s house, like many other houses in the affected area is still standing but is not in a condition suitable to live in. She is now living under the tent provided by GTT/GTN with her family nearby her damaged house.

Chuna says’’ We are very thankful towards GTN for providing us food and tent (temporary shelter) in such difficult time. This has been very helpful in healing the wound somehow. Chuna also explained that there are no toilets or a place to dispose the waste. She was concerned regarding the health and hygiene of her family. She has requested Green Tara to provide support which will help them maintain health and hygiene.

Baburam, 86 is from Chhaimale-9.Baburam lives in a joint family with 18 members including his grandchildren. Like many of the residents in Chhaimale, he has seen his house turning into rubble within few minutes of the major earthquake.

Baburam says-‘In such difficult times, the only thing I am very grateful is that me and my family are safe. But I am not happy with the government authorities. It has been long that the earthquake has hit. Unfortunately, we haven’t received any relief materials or support from the government yet. The only support we have got is the food ration and the tent from Green Tara for which we are very thankful.

He is now living with his family under the tents provided by GTT/GTN as a support for the earthquake affected.