From Deacon John Motis, diocesan disaster-relief coordinator:
Bishop Greg Brewer, Fr. Loren Fox and I would like to express our appreciation and thanksgiving for your support of the relief efforts in Nepal. Our diocese has sent $18,000 to the Diocese of Singapore, which has effective structures in place to administer relief efforts in that region, specifically for the people of Nepal.
Please keep in mind the recovery is not over. There are still many, many people hurting and they do not have the social safety nets we have in our country. Monsoon season is upon the people of Nepal. Many are living without any form of shelter. Let us continue to pray for them.
We will continue to send any support you may offer.
Blessings, Deacon John Motis
Disaster Relief Coordinator Diocese of Central Florida
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Just before noon local time on Saturday, April 25, Nepal suffered a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, one of the worst earthquakes to hit a populated area in living memory.
Aid agencies including Episcopal churches and relief organizations, are sending funds to be used for emergency food and non-food items, shelter, clean water and sanitation facilities, among other things.
More than 4,000 people have been killed and over 6,000 injured due to the earthquake, according to the Anglican Board of Mission, based in Australia. The destruction of countless homes and buildings has left many people sleeping on the streets in freezing temperatures.
In early May, Fr. Fox and Deacon Motis sent the following to the people of the Diocese of Central Florida:
This letter from the Dean of Nepal adds a personal insight to what is happening on the ground there.
The Deanery of Nepal
It has been a week since the 7.8 magnitude quake hit Nepal. Today, the churches in Nepal meet to worship (Saturday is a rest day in Nepal, also the day churches meet to worship), but it will never be the same again. Many have lost their loved ones, friends, colleagues, classmates, and fellow acquaintances.
Today also marks the last day for Search and Rescue, and all buried will be presumed dead. For the Anglican Church in Nepal and our Diocese, today is a very sad day as we mourn the death of 78 Anglican members in the district of Dhading. (The number could rise, as many are still buried under the rubble.)
We have just received a report of the death toll, and that 13 of our church buildings in 14 villages of the Dhading district are destroyed, and 30,000 villagers are displaced, affecting more than 5,000 families. They are without shelter, food and aid. Many are having to brave the cold wet nights in the open due to the monsoon. Some woke up only to find their young children dead from the cold.
The people in the mountains are cut off from aid and supply due to severe damage to 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.
The death toll has gone beyond 6,200 as of this morning, with more than 20,000 injured, and 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.
The Rev. Lewis Lew
(Dean of Nepal)
2 May 2015