The people in the mountains are cut off from aids and supply due to severe damage of the roads and mountain tracks. We thank God for brave souls like young Pastor Beg who trekked the mountains in the last 4 days, despite knowing the dangers, to check on the well-being of his Tamang people. Death toll has gone beyond 6,200 as of this morning, and with more than 20,000 injured, many more thousands are still unaccounted for. Let's unite our hearts to pray for God's mercy for Nepal and let's extend our help in whatever ways we can reach those who are badly needing the shelters, food and supplies.

*****

Effects of earthquake 'devastating' reports Anglican Deanery of Nepal

Anglican Communion News Service
Based on reports from Anglican Alliance
April 28, 2015

The effects of the 7.9 Richter scale earthquake that hit Nepal 80 km northwest of Kathmandu Saturday just before noon local time and the aftershock an hour later have been "devastating," said the Revd Lewis Lew, Dean of Nepal Deanery of the Diocese of Singapore of the Church of the Province of South East Asia.

At least 3,617 people are confirmed to have died, police say, and more than 6,500 people have been injured, according to the National Emergency Operation Centre. Dozens of people are also reported to have been killed in neighbouring China and India.

The death toll from the most powerful quake to hit the region in 81 years is likely to rise as information comes in from remote outlying areas of the mountainous country. Massive damage to property and infrastructure has been reported in Kathmandu and outlying villages, access to which has been cut off by landslides. Tremors were felt as far afield as Delhi and Dhaka.

"Many buildings in Kathmandu, especially those in old Kathmandu city, have collapsed," said Dean Lew. "We are [having great difficulty] contacting our churches outside of Kathmandu, as communication is [nearly] totally cut off outside of Kathmandu. We are particularly concerned for our churches near the epicentre, those in Gorkha, Bhaktapur & Dhading districts. I am working with our brothers to see what kind of help is needed and how we can support them."

The quake also hit Mt Everest, and resulted in many avalanches, he said. Authorities were still trying to account for the mountaineers.

The government of Nepal has appealed to the international community for emergency assistance as the scale of the disaster is beyond the response capacities of national authorities.

'Nothing is standing'

Many of the Deanery's churches are located in villages in the Dhading district which was badly hit by the quake. Buildings, houses, schools and churches have all collapsed. "Nothing is standing," said one of the local priests.

"The death toll is expected to be high. The survivors are badly shaken. They are waiting for aid. There is a shortage of clean water and food and electricity has been cut off. This disaster has claimed so far more than 2000 lives and more than 8000 are injured. Tremors are still being felt every half an hour, even in Kathmandu," said Dean Lew.

Many people are reportedly sleeping outside, even those who have not lost their homes, for fear of further tremors causing building collapse.

Gearing up to respond

Currently, work is being done to assess the situation on the ground in Nepal, according to Dean Lew. "I hope to get more ground reports on [the needs] and how we can help practically, and also this will give me a chance to consult our bishops on how we can come alongside our folks in the deanery," he said.

Churches and agencies around the Anglican Communion have launched appeals and preparing for the massive relief response that will be needed. The Anglican Alliance would be standing ready to give support, said Co-Executive Director Rachel Carnegie.

The Rt Revd Rennis Ponniah, Bishop of Singapore, reported that Bishop Kuan Kim Seng, Director of Missions of the Diocese of Singapore, had put the ACROSS Crisis Relief team in 'ready to move' mode. "We stand ready to come alongside with practical help. We long to be with you and will do so soon."

Dean Lew asked for prayer for all those affected by the earthquake and for disaster and relief teams mobilising to respond.

The Interim General Secretary of the Anglican Communion Canon Alyson Barnett-Cowan has assured the Church of the Province of South East Asia of the support of the Anglican Communion.

Notes

For more details on appeals and links to more information, please consult the Anglican Alliance website.

Share prayers for Nepal and the region on the Prayer Wall of the Anglican Communion website.

*****

Nepal Earthquake Updates Two

May 6, 2015

By the Rev. Dr. Bal Krishna Sharma,
Principal of Nepal Theological Seminary

Dear Friends,

As you have been closely watching the aftermath of April 27th 11:56 AM, 7.8 Richter scale earthquake. After my initial study and observation, this is my second updates regarding your possible next response for this crisis. This earthquake has claimed more than 9000 lives and 16000 have injured and about 200000 houses are fully destroyed and another 200000 houses damaged and need to be rebuilt. This figure will increase as the rescue still continues and relief materials are being distributed to the affected people through government and private mechanism. Some remote villages are yet to receive these relief materials including some food, tent, medicine etc. We need to commend Nepalese Army, and Police force and civil servants and general public and international communities for this overwhelming response to help brothers and sisters in Nepal who have been greatly affected through this massive earthquake. Out of 28 million population of Nepal, about 10 million have been affected fully or partially. But as a matter of fact, the whole nation has been affected in terms of traumatic experiences and economic disaster. People have lost their families and homes and properties of their entire investment and saving.

After the earthquake of April 27th until May 5th about one million+ people have left Kathmandu valley. As aftershocks continue, due to the rumors of another big earthquake, health hazard, and people have no places to live because many houses in Kathmandu valley have been either destroyed or damaged. Kathmandu streets still seem empty. Shops are still closed and no business is functioning in its full capacity. Tourism has been immensely affected. Many schools and colleges in 16 districts have been destroyed or damaged. These educational institutions are closed. We hope and pray that these will normalize soon.
The country of Nepal has to be rebuilt and it has to be done immediately and wisely. Emotional responses are not enough for long tern restoration and rebuilding. There has to be determination and commitment from all sectors for rebuilding Nepal. Yes, if we want we can. The most affected rural communities need to be given special attention. Now, many people in rural and urban areas who have lost their place of stay are concern on how they are going to face soon coming raining season. Some of the people expressing that they are more worried for their stay than food relief they are getting. It shows the coming days are going to be more challenging to the survivors. Where are they going to stay? So the government has to immediately ask affected people to build their temporary shed with available materials and government can supply tin sheet and some money for this immediate need to respond soon coming raining season. Though people may live in tents, living in tent is not a Nepali culture, people can live in tents when they are provided with ready to eat food every-day, but that is not the case here in Nepal. They have to cook their own food in firewood, they will have some animals to take care of. They have grains to keep.

After building this temporary shed, then there has to be a long term rebuilding of houses with the help of the Nepal government, general public, INGOs and NGOs and international communities to concentrate on building of earthquake resistant friendly houses. Government can ask INGOs and NGOs to stop other programs and spend their money for this purpose for time being. International communities can do this work from public partnership. After this, the government also needs to make plan to demolish and rebuild other houses in other areas of Nepal with systematic plan. The people of Nepal are aware of the destructive nature of earthquake and they will be willing to put their money in new technology for safe houses to live and the government has to monitor this. Let us together make safe and prosperous Nepal.

Bal Krishna Sharma PhD
Principal
Nepal Theological College
Post Box 4245
Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: 977-1-5201459
Mobile: 977-9841393070
Website: www.nepaltheologicalcollege.org
Skype: bal.krishna.sharma1

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Urgent Relief Need: Nepal Earthquake

Anglican Relief and Development (ARDF) is partnering with Anglicans in Nepal to provide urgent relief to communities affected by a recent devastating earthquake. Please join with them as they reflect the love of Christ in the midst of this tragedy.

You can donate by clicking this link: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E92060&id=44

END