 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
The need for aid in Nepal
The Tibetan refugee community in Nepal totals 20,000 people and is spread over ten settlements. These Tibetan refugees receive far less support from the Nepalese Government than is provided to refugees in India by the Indian Government. One area of concern is the welfare of refugees who have just crossed the Himalayas into Nepal. Over the past decade, Tibet Relief Fund has supported a number of highly effective projects in partnership with Trek-Aid.
Projects in Nepal
Tibetan Refugee Transit Centre, Kathmandu
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees operates a Transit Centre in Kathmandu for Tibetan refugees who have recently crossed the Himalayas into exile in Nepal. The centre provides accommodation, food and medication. Most of the refugees are destined for India, but to enter India legally, each refugee must attend an interview and wait for their paperwork to be processed at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. 2003 saw the introduction of more rigorous procedures, which has extended the average length of stay at the Transit Centre from three or four weeks to four months. Furthermore, the recent state of emergency in Nepal and the government’s forced closure of both the Kathmandu office of the representative of HH the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office has led to increasing numbers of residents at the Transit Centre. There are currently around 1,000 Tibetans staying at the centre, which does not have sufficient resources to cope with the demand. Urgent needs include a new tube well, piping and taps to ensure a clean water supply. This will immediately help alleviate the growing problem of disease due to lack of sanitation caused by the shortage of water.
Medical Grants for Tibetan refugees, Pokhara
For a number of years Tibet Relief Fund has been supporting Trek Aid’s medical grants programme for elderly and poverty stricken Tibetans in four refugee communities near Pokhara, Nepal. This programme supports those who need regular assistance due to ongoing health problems as well as others who are in desperate need of medical aid but are without the means to pay for the necessary treatments. Needs range from paracetamol and antibiotics to treatments for broken limbs, cancer and tuberculosis.
Help us to put compassion into action - donations are always welcome and greatly appreciated. Another way of supporting our projects in Tibet, India and Nepal is to purchase gifts through Enlightened Gifts where there is a range of goodwill gifts, a great selection of cards, books, CDs and Tibetan crafts.