AN UPDATE ON TIBETAN REFUGEES’ ASSISTANCE TO THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
FEBRUARY 14, 2001: On the 7th of February Mr. Tenpa Samkhar, the political secretary at the Kashag Secretariat will lead a Tibetan official group to Gujurat to assist the earthquake victims of the state.
Led by Mr. Dawa Tsering, Welfare officer at Mcloed Ganj, 45 Tibetans from Dharamsala and 51 Tibetans from our settlements in south India are already in Gujurat. The Tibetan camp in Delhi has sent more reinforcement. The Department of Health, Central Tibetan Administration has dispatched 10 health workers to assist in the relief works.
Mr. Samkhar will use Rs. 22.5 lacs to buy cooking utensils, blankets and other necessities to those who have survived the tragic earthquake.
As soon as the earthquake devastated Gujurat, His Holiness the Dalai Lama contributed Rs. 500,000 and the Kashag contributed Rs. 300,000 to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
Since then the Tibetan refugees have been making contributions in cash and in kind for the Gujurat earthquake victims.
Tibetan community in Australia donates 2050 Australian dollars for quake victims
Tibetans settled in Australia handed over Australian dollars 2050 to the Indian embassy in Canberra towards Prime Minister’s National Relief Funds in an effort to help in the relief operation of the recent earthquake that hit northwestern India.
In a letter to the Consul General Mr.Rajendra Singh Rathore, Mr. Chope Paljor Tsering, His Holiness’ representative to the Australaisa wrote, “When the The Tibetans in America felt an immense sense of sorrow to learn of the devastating earthquake that rocked India on January 26th, 2001. The tragic situation that has gripped the State of Gujurat and the surrounding areas has been on the conscience of the Tibetan community in North America since the news broke. We share a profound sense of sadness that this tragedy has befallen India, our beloved second home. In effort to alleviate some of the misery and difficulties being faced by India and her people, the Tibetans in North America have taken up a collection to donate to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.”
The letter said that the donation is a token of sympathy to the victims of this calamity and the “immeasurable support and kindness extended by India in the darkest period of Tibet’s history.”