Volunteers of the Taiwan-headquartered global charity and humanitarian organization Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation leapt into action in Nepal recently after record-breaking monsoon rains in Nepal caused the Bagmati River to burst its banks, inundating Kathmandu with floodwaters.
Torrential monsoons rains in early July, mid August, and late September led to widespread flooding and landslides across the country that resulted in the deaths of at least 224 people, with 158 injuries, 28 missing, and thousands of homes damaged, as well as bridges, highways, hydropower stations, and telecommunication stations, according to government data. Over a three-day period in late September, Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley recorded an average of 240 millimeters of rain, with some areas recording up to 322 millimeters.
“Nepal’s capital city, Kathmandu, faced a catastrophic disaster,” Tzu Chi said. “The downpour impacted many communities, with entire residential and impoverished areas submerged. Tzu Chi volunteers in the area immediately joined hands with local volunteers to launch relief efforts.” (Tzu Chi Foundation)
After hearing that a number of affected residents had been evacuated to a nearby school, Tzu Chi International Medical Association member and Tzu Chi volunteer Dr. Nirdesh Shakya reached out to the school principal to offer help.
“The Bagmati and Koshi rivers both overflowed, flooding all residential and slum areas nearby,” Dr. Shakya observed.
The school had offered shelter and refuge to 70 people, with officials and local school board members providing food, however they lacked supplies to keep them warm.
“We contacted local vendors who had stores, but unfortunately, their warehouses were already flooded,” said one Tzu Chi volunteer.“Fortunately, we found one supplier who kindly agreed to meet us at his warehouse, despite it being past 11 p.m. He opened his store and offered whatever he could.”
With the much-needed items in hand, the volunteers returned to the school to distribute blankets and carpets, providing warmth and relief to the displaced families.
Kathmandu’s city government reached out to Tzu Chi directly for assistance on 29 September. The deputy CEO of Tzu Chi Singapore, Susi Zhao explained: “We received a request from the city spokesperson, saying that a landslide occurred in the Nagarjun area. We immediately drove from the Bagmati disaster area to the site.” (Tzu Chi Foundation)
Volunteers quickly purchased supplies and distributed them from a community school. With roads inaccessible to large trucks, the volunteers formed a human chain to relay the supplies, organizing and handing them over with respect and care.
“I’ve lost everything; I have nothing left,” said one recipient, Asha Chaudhary, unable to contain her emotions. “I’m so happy and grateful for this support today. Thank you!” (Tzu Chi Foundation)
Tzu Chi Singapore’s Zhao noted that 19 households received supplies that day, although two families from the community were not present—one had lost a child to a landslide, and a member of the other family was missing. The volunteers began a spontaneous onsite fundraising effort.
“I believe these two families are suffering the most right now,” Zhao noted. “We encouraged everyone to help however they can, hoping that amid this tragedy, compassion and mutual support will offer the greatest comfort and strength.” (Tzu Chi Foundation)
The Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation, Republic of China, more widely known as the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, was founded in Taiwan in 1966 by the Buddhist nun and Dharma teacher Master Cheng Yen. With a focus on “putting compassion into action,” the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation is a UN-accredited NGO with some 10 million supporters and 432 offices worldwide across 51 countries, undertaking regular activities in the fields of humanitarian aid, medical care, education, and environmental sustainability.
As a global icon of socially engaged Buddhism, Master Cheng Yen has expressed a deeply held belief that all people are capable of manifesting the same great compassion as the Buddha. She has noted that true compassion is not simply feeling sympathy for the suffering of others, but is found in reaching out to relieve suffering with concrete action.
Master Cheng Yen is popularly known in Taiwan as one of the “Four Heavenly Kings” of Buddhism, the others being: Master Sheng Yen, founder of Dharma Drum Mountain; Master Hsing Yun, founder of Fo Guang Shan; and Master Wei Chueh, founder of Chung Tai Shan. These four global Buddhist orders, correspondingly known as the “Four Great Mountains,” have grown to become among the most influential Chinese Buddhist organizations in the world.
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Tzu Chi Foundation
Tzu Chi USA
Heavy Rains Trigger Landslides: Kathmandu Volunteers Bring Urgent Relief (Tzu Chi Foundation)
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