Some time ago TRUE LIFE IN GOD made an appeal to your love and kindness, relating to Nepal earthquake victims. We would like to thank all of you who responded to this appeal. Here we are offering you a brief update of Beth Myriams (BMs) Nepal mission aid for the victims of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake which rocked the country, caused buildings to collapse, set off avalanches on Mount Everest and catapulted the entire region into chaos. Moreover as the monsoon season is approaching, we would like to express to your love our concern of more injuries to be caused to the survivors because of potential collapse of already damaged buildings. Over 500,000 houses have been destroyed and 269,000 damaged. Afraid of returning to their homes, many people remain in makeshift tents along road sides. About 95,100 people remain displaced.
Sadly, according to official results,the earthquakes caused 8,659 deaths (4,771 female; 3,887 male) and injured over 100,000 people whereas 384 people are still missing. Since the very first moment ( on April 25, 2015) that the earthquake struck the country, BMs Nepal volunteers were close to the people in need. Despite the fact that more than 100 aftershocks have been recorded throughout the area, Nepalese Beth Myriams volunteers have been present to offer relief to people in pain and need. Having only one rental cargo van as transportation, BMs volunteers travel often for more than 9 hours among damaged roads and infrastructure to access areas where people are still not able to reach local markets and obtain some food. The whole mission was very demanding and challenging, but with God’s grace they managed to reach 11 villages, covering 5 out of 14 damaged districts, offering relief to more than 3385 people of whom 1200 are currently staying in inaccessible areas.
Table 1 BMs volunteers’ reach into damaged areas, offering relief to earthquake victims on behalf of TRUE LIFE IN GOD
Landslides, damaged roads, unseasonal rains and mountainous terrain continue to pose significant logistical challenges. With the upcoming monsoon weather expected to significantly constrain access, support is urgently needed to ensure that pipelines are well established to continue relief operations. Many people who were affected by the disaster are highly vulnerable on the basis of socio-economic, language, religious, caste, ethnic and geographic factors. The situation of women and girls is of particular concern. In the aftermath of a disaster the risk of sexual violence, exploitation and abuse, trafficking, forced prostitution and marriage may be heightened.
Due to the approach of monsoon season in the area, BMs Nepal volunteers plan is the provision of temporary construction shelters for displaced people as well as for schooling. Moreover, BMs Nepal intentions are to offer help to more than 5000 people in the regional villages including those in orphanages, single women and people with special needs. Let us support once again their efforts.
