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Nepal: Jesuits Respond to Earthquake

08 May 2015

St. Xavier’s student volunteer distribute relief materials (tarpaulin sheets) to the villagers in Devpur, Kavre district mon behalf of the Nepal Jesuits (Nepal Jesuits).

Last month, we saw Nepal suffering a massive earthquake. Let us keep our eyes on those in need, especially the help is still needed after the media attention goes away in those kinds of circumstances. Here is a report from JRS International website.


Rome, Washington DC, 30 April 2015 – Last Saturday’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Nepal has left more than 5,000 people dead, 10,000 injured, thousands more homeless, and untold numbers isolated in remote villages. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, numbers are expected to rise as aid workers and search and rescue teams access remote areas closer to the epicentre of the earthquake.

Strong aftershocks continued to rattle the country in the days after Saturday’s disaster, leaving people with a sense of fear and insecurity. 

“The people are still in shock as the aftershocks continue. Most of the people are staying out in the open places as they fear to go back to their partially damaged houses,” said Fr Boniface Tigga SJ, the Jesuit Regional Superior of Nepal.

“Many people are terrified of sleeping in their homes and have erected tents and make-shift shelters in open areas,” said Fr Tigga.

“Throughout the night, one can see people simply walking the streets, or huddled under blankets by the side of the road, for lack of shelter. Unseasonal rain has sent night-time temperatures plummeting, adding to the misery of those displaced.”

The Jesuits of Nepal have responded quickly to the tragedy, Fr Tigga says. St. Xavier’s College reached out to two remote villages, providing residents tarpaulin sheets to sleep under and basic food material. 

Fr Tigga reports that many roads are blocked, making it difficult to reach many locations. 

“We hope to reach out to some more villages where relief work has not been done so far. For this we count on your help and prayers,” said Fr Tigga.

“One great concern now is water supply and food. As stored food and water supplies diminish, suffering will increase. In addition to providing medical care to those who were severely injured, medical teams are concerned about the possible outbreak of diseases, especially cholera, because of damage to the water supply system.”

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) will make its expertise available to the Jesuits in Nepal as needed in terms of assistance from the JRS South Asia team in Delhi and the Rapid Response Team of the International Office.

“The prayerful support and material assistance of our brother Jesuits and their colleagues, the wider church, and the general public, will be of enormous help to us as we provide aid to those in immediate dire need and begin to help Nepal recover from the devastating impact of the earthquake,” Fr Tigga said.

JRS will publish new information as it becomes available, and the Nepal Jesuits have set up a Facebook page here.

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How to help

To make a tax-deductible donation in the US to support the relief efforts of the Society of Jesus in Nepal, please use the information below:

To donate via credit card, visit the secure online donations page by clicking here. Please use the additional gift information field to indicate Nepal and other specific requests.

For inquiries, confirmation of your donation, or for additional information, please call: +1 800-922-5327.

For cheques:
Make the cheque payable to Jesuit International Missions and mail to:
USA Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus
2050 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60614

Please indicate that the gift is for Nepal Earthquake Relief in an accompanying letter or on the memo line of the cheque.

Bank transfer
:
USA Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus 
North Shore Community Bank
Routing Number: 071-001-737
Account Number. 63500-26276

Please call +1 800-922-5327 to inform the office that you are wiring a gift for Nepal Earthquake Relief.



Original Story in JRS International: Click Here.

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Jesuit Refugee Service UK
The Hurtado Jesuit Centre
2 Chandler Street, London E1W 2QT

020 7488 7310
uk@jrs.net

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