Kalon Ngodup Tsering says situation in Nepal critical after assessment tour
DHARAMSALA, May 29: Thirteen Tibetans have lost their lives and situation of Tibetans in Nepal is critical, said Education Kalon Ngodup Tsering at a press conference held on May 28 here in Dharamsala following his visit to Nepal to assess damage caused by the devastating earthquakes that recently rocked the landlocked Himalayan kingdom.
As representatives of Kashag, the Tibetan cabinet, Kalon Ngodup Tsering and Secretary Ngodup Dorjee of Finance Department visited Nepal to gauge the extent of damage caused by the tremors to Tibetan lives and properties in Nepal.
Kalon Ngodup Tsering visited Tibetan schools, monasteries, Tibetan Handicraft Centre, Tibetan Reception Centre and various other Tibetan offices in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu from May 18-21.
He met with the settlement officer as well as the ‘Tibetan earth quake relief committee’ and held discussions with the Tibetan community in Jwalakhel, assuring them of the Tibetan administration’s commitment to continue to provide support and aid.
“The situation in Nepal is critical and in need of support and aid. The Central Tibetan Administration has provided NPR 40 lakhs in addition to NPR 60 lakhs sanctioned earlier through the ‘Tibetan earthquake relief committee’. Thirteen Tibetans have died and several Tibetans have been injured. Families who have lost a member is provided with a sum of NPR 50,000/- and those who have lost more than one member is provided with a sum of NPR one lakh,” Kalon Ngodup Tsering said.
Secretary Ngodup Dorjee visited the Tibetan settlements in Pokhra and Tibetan families residing in remote Shabru and Thempoche in Rasuwa district from May 13-19. He met with the public, the settlement officers, and members of various Tibetan associations during his assessment tour.
Secretary Dorjee said the situation in Shabru and Thempoche is quite critical.
“Most of the houses, schools and offices in these remote places were severely affected by the earthquakes,” he said.
The representatives also lauded the voluntary relief operations carried out by monks and nuns of various monasteries and nunneries in Nepal in terms of financial assistance or otherwise.
Immediately after Nepal was hit by the earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama expressed his sadness and solidarity in a condolence letter sent to the government of Nepal and also gave NPR 50 Lakhs from the Dalai Lama Trust towards relief efforts in the country.
The Central Tibetan Administration also extended its support by contributing NPR 21 Lakhs through the through the Tibetan Coordinator’s office based in Kathmandu.
