Dear friends,
These last weeks, we have seen and heard yet again of the destruction and devastation caused by natural disasters. Typhoon Maysak at the end of March caused severe damage throughout Micronesia, displacing thousands, ruining livelihoods and food supplies, and damaging infrastructure. And just days ago, on April 25, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake has caused widespread destruction in Nepal.
More than half of Nepal’s 75 districts are affected by the earthquake, which struck an area between Kathmandu and the city of Pokhara, destroying historic monuments and damaging many buildings in the Nepalese capital. It was the worst earthquake to hit the country in more than 80 years, and the rural poor areas close to the epicentre suffered the most damage. Already 4,000 people are reported to have been killed and thousands more are injured, and these numbers are rising. The aftershocks caused more damage, and widespread fear of more destruction to come resulted in people sheltering in tents outdoors rather than in buildings.
According to news reports, many communities are isolated by damaged infrastructure and communications, making it difficult to determine the extent of the destruction, but already private and government hospitals are running out of space to treat the injured. Isolated, mountainous villages that can only be reached on foot or by helicopter are in great need.
All religious including the 68 Jesuits in Nepal are safe and their buildings, although damaged, are largely intact. The Jesuits have opened the grounds of their schools to people seeking shelter as they assess the situation further and determine how best they can help the survivors. The Jesuits have been assigned five villages as a focus for their relief efforts.
Fr Boniface Tigga SJ, Regional Superior of Nepal, tells us that one great concern now is the supply of water and food. As stored food and water supplies diminish, suffering will increase, and medical teams are also concerned about the possible outbreak of diseases, especially cholera, because of damage to the water supply system and makeshift sanitation.
What we can do immediately is to pray for all those affected, for the relief workers and the relief and recovery efforts. We ask that you join us in praying for them, as well as for the people in Micronesia now struggling to rebuild their lives after Maysak.
God bless,
Fr Mark Raper SJ
President, Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific
April 30, 2015
Donations to the relief work by the Jesuits in Nepal can be made through the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific. Contact jcapsj@jcapsj.org for the bank transfer details. Questions can be emailed to sjrelief4nep@gmail.com.
To follow the relief efforts by the Nepal Jesuits, visit their Facebook page, Earthquake relief by Nepal Jesuits: www.facebook.com/sjrelief4nep
Related story: Struggling to recover from Typhoon Maysak