POKHARA, Nepal: The Lodrik Welfare Fund comprising of Jampaling, Paljorling and Tashigang Tibetan settlements in Pokhara, Nepal, embarked on a mission to provide relief materials to quake affected people in remote areas of Nepal where international aid were yet to come.

Tibetans from the three settlements in Pokhara collected donations and relief materials like blankets, clothing and food, to be distributed in Gorkha district, located about 100 kilometers away from the Tibetan settlement. The Gorkha district, located deep within the country, is one of the most severely affected areas of the Nepal earthquake. However, international relief efforts were slow to reach the area as most of the relief was focused on the cities.

Tibetans distributed basic food amenities like rice, dal, sugar, tea, noodles, biscuits and water, to the various villages in the region through local leaders Mr. Kamal Aryal and Mr. Bharti Gurung. The relief efforts were greatly appreciated by the people. The Tibetan people in Pokhara are also communicating with other regions affected by the earthquake to provide basic aids.

A prayer service has also been organised on 5 May by the Pokhara Tibetan settlements to express solidarity with the victims of the earthquake that shook Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, Bangladesh and parts of India. Taklung Rinpoche of Taklung monastery accompanied by the abbot of the monastery will lead the prayer service.