Nepal earthquake
WUJA expresses its deep condolence and reach out to the victims with a Compassionate Heart.
Letter from Fr. Sunny Jacobs, Secretary of JEA (Jesuit Educational Association in India):
Dear Friends
This is the hour of crisis in Nepal. Even in our country’s Border States are affected very much. Let us, Jesuit educationists and our school families, express our compassion with the victims and the people of Nepal.
I urge all of our schools to spend two minutes in silence during the Assembly and pray for the dead and for the country. Kindly organize meaningful programmes in schools that create empathy and compassion with the victims. Take up earthquake as the theme for drawing competition and other awareness programmes.
We have our own Jesuit companions struggling to help the victims of this terrible calamity. All our schools in Nepal are used for the people as temporary camps. Let us pledge our compassionate oneness with them in whatever way we can.
UNICEF said Sunday that at least 940,000 children in areas affected by the earthquake are in “urgent need” of humanitarian assistance. UNICEF staff reported dwindling water supplies, power shortages and communications breakdowns.
“Day two is just as bad as day one. We get the aftershocks every five minutes,” said Basanta Adhikari of Biratnagar, in eastern Nepal.
Adhikari said his uncle was killed in Katmandu on Saturday near where he was admitting his son to a hospital.
“He was standing at a shop with his friend chatting when the Earth started shaking. He ran out to try to survive, but to no avail as a tall house fell on him, and he was buried under the rubble,” Adhikari said.
The earthquake, the strongest to hit the country in 80 years, destroyed swaths of the oldest neighborhoods and was strong enough to be felt all across parts of India, Bangladesh, China’s region of Tibet and Pakistan.
With people fearing more quakes, many Nepalese felt safer spending the night under chilly skies, or in cars and public buses. Sunday’s aftershocks made people only more tense.
“There were at least three big quakes at night and early morning. How can we feel safe? This is never-ending and everyone is scared and worried,” Katmandu resident Sundar Sah told the Associated Press. “I hardly got much sleep. I was waking up every few hours and glad that I was alive.”
Nepal authorities said Sunday that at least 2,430 people died in that country alone, not including the 18 dead on Mount Everest. Another 61 people died from the quake in India and a few in other neighboring countries. At least 5,900 have been injured. With search and rescue efforts far from over, the death toll is expected to rise.
But as the first stunned survivors of the avalanche on Mount Everest reached Katmandu, they said that dozens of people may still be missing and were almost certainly dead.
“The snow swept away many tents and people,” said Gyelu Sherpa, a guide among the first group of 15 injured survivors to reach Katmandu.
The overwhelming devastation destroyed or damaged many of Nepal’s traditional temples, palaces and historic sites.
The Dharahara Tower, one of Nepal’s most famous landmarks, was reduced to little more than a pile of rubble. Up to 180 people were killed and 200 people were trapped in what was left of the structure, Britain’s Guardian newspaper reported.
The world reacted quickly to the disaster, offering money, relief materials, equipment, expertise and rescue teams to the country of 28 million people that relies heavily on tourism, principally trekking and Himalayan mountain climbing.
At the Vatican, Pope Francis led prayers for the dead and those injured in the massive earthquake. He called for assistance for survivors, and “all those who are suffering from this calamity,” during his weekly Sunday blessing.
Remember the 4 c’s (Compassion, Commitment, Conscience and Competence) of Jesuit education.
With warm regards,
Fr. Sunny Jacob S.J.
JEA Secretary, SA
