Nepal

In the early morning of May 3, 2009, a powerful storm hit the eastern parts of Nepal, massively affecting 94 Village Development Committees*, each comprising several villages, in the Rautahat district. More than 500 houses were left without roofs, six people lost their lives and many others were injured.

After spending a week evaluating the situation in the vast disaster-stricken area, our Association members from the Kathmandu Center bought 400 tents and 350 mosquito nets with Master’s loving contribution of US$10,000 and returned to Rautahat on May 21. They met with Chief District Officer Kamalesh Prasad Sinha, Red Cross District President Mohammed Mazrool Haq and Superintendent of Police (SP) Ghanananda Bhatta the following day to discuss the relief work. They then decided to distribute the tents and mosquito nets to families who had lost their loved ones or were in need of financial assistance or whose houses had suffered severe damage.

	Thank you letters from District Police Office and Red Cross Society, Rautahat

Despite muddy road conditions and the hot weather, the relief team spent another three days traveling by jeep and motorcycle to remote areas to conduct a further door-to-door assessment of the situation so that no family in desperate need would be missed. On May 25, they delivered the relief supplies directly into the hands of the needy at the District Police Office in the presence of the Red Cross District President, the Superintendent of Police, the Superintendent of Armed Police, some local officers and volunteers. All were impressed by the efficient work of the fellow initiates and learned many new strategies for handling emergency situations. They thanked Supreme Master Ching Hai for Her heartfelt care and love for the victims, and indicated that it was the first help they’d received since the storm. They were also happy to receive SOS flyers and information about vegetarianism as a noble way of life and a solution to the current crisis of global warming, as well as learn about Master and Her mission. Additional tents and mosquito nets were sent to the people in remote villages on May 31 through the Nepal Red Cross.

The Nepal Red Cross Society and the District Police Office in Rautahat sent letters of appreciation thanking our Association members for their work and dedication. The national news channel Avenues Television and the local newspaper By Pass Daily all covered this relief operation.

* A Village Development Committee is similar to a municipality.

Expenditure by Supreme Master Ching Hai
for the Storm Relief Work in Rautahat, Nepal

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