Thursday, May 28, 2015

Humanitarian Mission for Nepal Earthquake Relief

The Thousand Stars Foundation
Humanitarian Mission for Nepal Earthquake Relief
Trip #2 (15 April - 22 May 2015)
15 May
Arrive Kathmandu, organized purchasing of zinc sheets, tarpaulin sheets, and food for distribution, set up working camp at a space provided by our host in Bodnath
16 May
Nowakot
Distributed zinc sheet, tarpaulin sheet and blankets to:
70 families in Talekhu village 1
45 families in Talekhu village 2
6 families of poor Tamang villagers (found during the way to Likhu village)
93 families in Likhu village (for the 5 families that did not receive the zinc sheets were provided instead with cash for the amount of 3,000 rupees/family)
Throughout the trip to and from Nowakot food supplies were distributed to over 400 people.
17 May
(Morning) stocking up the zinc sheets, tarpaulin sheets, and food and juices, into two truck and one jeep.
(Afternoon) traveled to Dolakar, stayed overnight at army camp near Tatopani which is the town border to China.
Dolakar was the epicentre of the 2nd earthquake occurred on 12 May of which 170 lives were lost. The village of Sinkati suffered the largest lost of lives with 80 deaths.
18 May
Arrived in Sinkati, distributed supplies to 107 families and 176 temporary residents, altogether 283 families were assisted with materials for constructing temporary homes.
Team also provided assistance to 100 Thami villagers who were the poor and marginalised community in Dolakhar. Zinc sheets, tarpaulin sheets, and food were distributed to 100 families. The team left the village about 9pm, and stayed overnight in the truck parked near Tatopani.
19 May
Arrived back in Kathmandu, organised the stocking up of relief supplies and visited the following sites:
Langtang camps which now had 488 people, it was reported that over 300 lives were lost in Langtang. The team donated 15,000 rupees to assist with purchases of their kitchen equipments, so that the camp could have their own kitchen to cook for increasing number of camp residents, and relieving the burden of temple’s kitchen.
Visited camp of Khamjim villagers from Rasuwa, distributed 4 large tents, blankets, and food to 8 affected families (about 50 people).
Visited camp of Thuloshyasru, provided tent, blanket and food to families there.
Visited Triten Norbutse, donated USD 2,000 for restoring the dharma and meditation hall, contributed to the meals for 170 monks, and contributed tents and cash donation of 5,000 rupees to 3 monks.
Contributed 6 tents to nuns whose living quarters were damaged (at Thubten Choling temple in Solukhumbu)
20 May
Rasuwa
The team arrived at Ramche village where Taman and Yolmo villagers of Paleb village were waiting to receive relief supplies (zinc sheets and tarpaulin sheets) food were also given to over 100 children and adults there.

Relief supplies were provided to 81 Khamjim villagers who came to receive supplies at Syabrubesi due to the long travel distant to the village (additional 2 hours by foot from Syabrubesi), distribution included tents, zinc sheets, tarpaulin sheets, generator, blankets, and food (including packs of sugar, salt, chillies, and wheat flour)
In addition to Khamjim villagers who are Bhotia ethnic migrated from Kirong township in Tibet, the team provided assistance to 4 families of Tibetan ethnic groups who, due to political conflict, migrated and resided along the boarder. There are many more families of the same ethnicity residing in the high mountain (about 4 hours by foot from Syabrubesi). Tents, blankets, and food were distributed including 1,000 rupees of cash assistance provided to poor families (small children and elders with no families).
21 May
On the way back to Kathmandu, the team met with President of Association of the deaf in Nowakot to discuss the situation of disable population affected by the earthquake. The team visited a deaf person who was injured and gave tarpaulin sheet and 2,000 rupees cash to assist with medical expenses. The team gave him a tarpaulin sheet to the Association’s president to distribute to other affected disable person who might be needing the assistance.
In Kathmandu, the team visited the camp of Thuloshyasru and donated 1 tent, in addition to providing cash worth 1,000 rupees to poor Nepali families, injured persons, and 5 children (Tibetans and Nepalis), altogether totaled to 7,000 rupees.
22 May
- Visited Tarig temple in Bohnath, donated tents and $500 cash for the benefit of monks who were affected by the earthquakes.
Provided USD 1,000 to support the work of Youth Volunteers and Mr. Ang Kaji, to assist affected population from the earthquake.
Distributed 20 blankets to Youth Volunteers who assisted with the debris clearances at Yangrima school.
Translation credit: Pui Migmar Dawa.
Photo credit: Mint Dungkar Dawa