Emergency Disasters Appeal
We are witnessing many natural disasters all over the world and especially recently in Asia. Tibet Foundation would like to highlight those that have happened in remote areas - Ladakh in north India and Zhouqu (Drukchu) in Tibet.
Although receiving little publicity or media coverage, these disasters have caused immense suffering to the population and untold damage to their property. The Foundation would like to do whatever we can to help the people of Ladakh and Zhouqu.
Tibet Foundation has pledged to raise £40,000 to help the victims of this devastation. We would like to request our members to contribute generously to the urgent appeals below.
Ladakh Appeal
Two devastating cloud bursts followed by unprecedented rains in the early hours of August 6th caused mudslides and flash floods in Leh, the capital of Ladakh.
Adjoining areas were also affected including Choglamsar, home to many Tibetans and their educational institutes, monasteries and nunneries. The floods in this hill town washed away hundreds of houses leaving thousands of people homeless, and also a vast area of farmland destroyed.
To date, 139 people have been reported killed with more than 500 injured and many more missing. Three policemen are reported to have lost their lives and 25 army personnel are missing. Thousands of residents in Leh abandoned their homes for fear of further mudslides and are currently living in the open air despite the cold.
Reports received indicate that vast areas of agricultural land have been destroyed, seriously jeopardizing the livelihood of many poor farmers who are now in a desperate situation.
The heads of three local villages and the nearby monastery have approached Tibet Foundation for financial help. Funds are urgently needed to remove mud and stones from fields so that farms can be made ready for the next season before the arrival of sub-zero temperatures.
Tibet Foundation has already set up a Ladakh Relief Fund, pledging to raise £20,000 as an expression of our concern and sympathy for the people of Ladakh. Our field officer in India, Samdup Tsering, together with Lama Lekshey, director of the Sakya Centre, are already in communication with the local people and community leaders to assess the urgent emergency needs.
Please consider making an immediate donation to this fund.
Whatever you can afford will, at the very least, represent our solidarity with the people in Ladakh and make a practical difference on the ground. Your support is crucial at this time.
Zhouqu (Drukchu) Appeal
In the early hours of 8th August torrential rains, catastrophic landslides and flooding struck Zhouqu (Drukchu) County in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, leaving more than 1,200 dead, 500 missing and extensive destruction to property.
It is reported that 7,000 soldiers, fire-fighters and medical staff have been deployed in the relief and epidemic control efforts. Many buildings are buried under the mud and over 1,000 homes have been destroyed.
Hearing of the disaster that morning during a visit to Yushu, Phuntsog Wangyal immediately contacted the authorities in Beijing and conveyed our deepest condolences and sympathy to the people of Zhouqu on behalf of Tibet Foundation.
Our field officer in Tibet, Sonam Wangchen, is in contact with the authorities that are fully cooperating with our work. However, bad weather and further landslides are hindering the relief effort. As a result, the process of assessing the situation on the ground is taking longer than expected.
Tibet Foundation has pledged to raise £20,000 towards helping the people of Drukchu. They desperately need your support. Please help them by sending a donation to the Foundation today.
Thank you.
Tibet Foundation, 2 St James’s Market, London SW1Y 4SB
Tel: +44 20 7930 6001
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Zhouqu (Drukchu) Flood Appeal
Torrential rains, landslides and flooding have struck Zhouqu (Drukchu) County in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, leaving over 1,200 dead and 490 missing.
Catastrophic landslides, flooding and large scale loss of human life and destruction to property in Zhouqu (Drukchu) County of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture that struck the weekend of August 7th-8th have left over 1,200 people dead and almost 500 still missing.
So far 45,000 people have been evacuated 7,000 soldiers, fire-fighters and medical staff have been deployed in the relief and epidemic control efforts 300 buildings are buried in mud and over 1,000 homes have been destroyed with approximately 3,000 severely flooded.
Hearing of the disaster on the morning of the 8th August during a visit to Yushu, Phuntsog Wangyal immediately contacted the authorities in Beijing and conveyed our deepest condolences and sympathy to the people of Zhouqu on behalf of Tibet Foundation.
Phuntsog has now returned to London and will host an illustrated talk about his visit to Yushu on Thursday September 9th from 7-9pm at The Conference Room, St James Church, 197 Piccadilly, W1V-0LL. All those interested in the work of the Foundation and in particular the Foundation’s Aid to Tibet programme are warmly welcome. Entrance is free.
Please make your cheque payable to Tibet Foundation (Drukchu Flood)
And post to:
Tibet Foundation
2 St. James's Market
London SW1Y 4SB
United Kingdon
Enquiries: +44 (0)207 930 6001
Please download the full update PDF here
Yushu 2nd Emergency Relief Aid and Silver Jubilee Commemoration Highlights
Our Appeal target for the period (May 2010 - May 2015) is GBP 1 million. Our medium to long term projects will focus on the areas of education, healthcare and relief of poverty for the most vulnerable sections of the population in Yushu.
Yushu Earthquake Relief Update
As of 14th July 2010, Tibet Foundation has received a total sum of £ 126,248.44 – raised both online and offline.
This amount includes donations received from individual supporters and donor organisations (raised from their members/network for Yushu Earthquake Relief efforts). A big ‘Thugjey Chey’ to all of you who have donated to the Yushu Earthquake Relief Fund. Kindly keep up the good work!