Voice of Fetus, Nepal Strengthening the value of Human Life
V OL U ME 1, I SSU E 1
N EWSL ET T ER D AT E : 17\6 \015
VOF Nepal’s Specific Relief Distribution Program –2015 As we know that a strong (7.8 magnitudes) earthquake hit Nepal on April 25, 2015. The earthquake was followed by many powerful aftershocks and a new earthquake (6.8 magnitudes) hit the traumatized Nepal again on Sunday April26, 2015. The earthquakes caused extensive damages to whole villages, buildings and thousands of death and injures. Since then, thousands of earthquake survivors have been living a very panic life in makeshifts tents and the most affected and vulnerable people are pregnant women, new-born babies and lactating mothers. Around twelve babies are being born every hour without access to basic healthcare in the areas of Nepal worst hit by two powerful earthquakes, according to UNICEF, following massive damage to maternity facilities. The children’s organisation warns that over the next month the lives of almost 18,000 babies and mothers could be at risk, unless urgent action is taken to restore key healthcare systems. At least 70 per cent of birthing centres across the 14 most affected districts of Nepal have been damaged or destroyed, rising to 90 per cent in some areas. With surviving facilities overwhelmed, many pregnant women have been left without access to the healthcare they need to ensure the safe delivery of their babies. Thousands have also lost their homes, leaving mothers without a safe place to stay with their newborns.
We too were very badly affected! As my wife was new mother and my second son Yosef was newly born we felt in direct that the earthquake was affecting us very badly. We were compelled to live in a makeshift tent where no hygienic environment, full of mosquitoes, no notorious food– only noodles, few clothes and diapers for baby. We faced a genuine problems and I saw other mothers and babies around us...no good situation. So, we shared our baby’s diapers to them . And I used to read everyday news where I saw the real situation of babies and mothers. So, the situation inspired me to do a very specific relief program targeting to the pregnant women, new born babies, new mothers and lactating mothers and their babies living in temporary tents and camps.
An excitement! I must share an excitement with you that the VOF’s Relief work was started with very humble and simple objectives but slowly some of our regular partners, our Nepali friends and relatives in abroad started to join us and the relief efforts took very huge form. Likewise, with their valuable support we could reached and blessed 235 pregnant women, 256 new-born babies and new mothers respectively, 705 lactating mothers and under 2 years kids respectively. The relief distribution programs were happened in 7 most affected areas of Nepal. Now, please enjoyed the detail reports with photos of our relief distribution program. Thank you: Soman Rai (Elisha)
VOF’s First Relief Distribution Program at Tudikhel, Kathmandu Camp-1 4th May, 2015 Kathmandu: Voice of Fetus, Nepal provided relief materials to 13 pregnant women, 57 new-born babies & infants, 57 new and lactating mothers in Tudikhel, Kathmandu Camp-1. Due to the shortage of nutritious food to pregnant women, mosquito biting to new-born babies and infant, lack of extra clothes to babies and other essentials things to mothers, we found them at high risk. So VOF provided warm blankets, baby blankets, mosquito net, baby powder-soap, diapers, clothes, sanitary pads, maternal clothes, horlicks, purified water, etc to them.
VOF’s Second Relief Distribution Program at Tudikhel, Kathmandu Camp –2 5th May, 2015 TUDIKHEL, Kathmandu: VOF Nepal distributed useful relief stuffs to 13 pregnant women and 50 babies and 50 mothers who were left behind to get reliefs on 4th May due to insufficient relief stuffs. After the program, we even visited some of the babies and mothers in tent who had received the reliefs on first day. We found them living very happily. They were free from mosquito biting and had sound sleep. It was very nice talking and spending time with them. We appreciate all who indeed helped this Relief (RAHAT) Program with their finance, voluntarily assistance and prayer.
VOF’s Third Relief Distribution Program at Narayanhiti, Kathmandu Camp 8th May, 2015 Friday, Narayanhiti, Kathmandu: VOF Nepal again provided needed relief materials to 3 pregnant women, 25 new-born babies and 25 mothers living in a temporary camp facilitated by Nepal Army. The relief team grabbed an opportunity to talk and spend time with the women and mothers in the camp, who really shared their nightmares of Earthquake and their constant fear of it. So the team counselled and comforted them.
VOF’s Fourth Relief Distribution Program in Sindhupalchock 12 May, 2015 Sindupalchock, the 10 members of VOF relief team had gone to Sindhupalchock for relief distribution program. As you know that same day 6.8 magnitude of earthquake hit traumatized Nepal again making its epicentre to border of Dolakha and Sindupalchock. The team members were the eye-witness of the panic and tragic situation of there. However, VOF relief team donated reliefs to 30 pregnant women, 100 newborn and 100 mothers in 10 different villages of Sindupalchock and got back to Kathmandu with safety. Page 2
Volume 1, Issue 1
Some photos of Sindupalchock
VOF’s Fifth Relief Distribution Program at Bukmati and Khokana May16, 2015 Lalitpur, Nepal: Every life is worth to be served, loved and saved. With this motivation VOF took an opportunity to serve 20 pregnant women, 20 new mothers, 20 newborn baby, 120 babies and 120 lactating ing mothers in Bukmati and Khokana the tipical Newari zone, listed in World heritage but badly affected by the massive earthquake. Although it was raining and aftershock of 5.7magnitude, the VOF Relief Team didn't stop to distribute the relief stuffs to the lovely people. Taking as a whole, the program remained very excited and productive.
VOF’s sixth Relief Distribution Program at Bhirkot Dolakha On May 27th Wednesday, 2015 VOF Relief Distribution Team of 8 members had gone to the Bhirkot Village Development Community (VDC) of Dolakha (the epicentre of second massive earthquake). It took 7 hours from Kathmandu to get there by Hiace Van and 1\2 hrs walking up to the hill from motor road to the village where 53 pregnant women, 55 new mothers, 53 newly born babies and 145 infants of U2 years and 145 lactating mothers from 9 different wards or villages had been waiting for reliefs for long time in extreme heat. Finally, they were benefitted by the emergency relief materials.
Voice of Fetus, Nepal
Page 3
The relief materials’ packages were helped to transmit up from vehicle road to the event place by the local people. And the Relief Distribution Program was coordinated by the Health post of VDC, local women health volunteers and local community leaders. Moreover, the event’s news was covered by the Image Channel of Kathmandu. The team also had displayed the Life-giving awareness table with fetal model, Life in the womb and abortion explained flipcharts developed by Life International-US in the event place. Hundreds of local women visited the table and collected information on life. Many women were shocked by the knowledge of fetal development and abortion. And it was first time for them to have such kind of live information in their village, a local lady said. In order to divert their mind from the traumatic situation created by earthquake the awareness program was very essential. Now, at least they have new topic of talking in their family and village instead of talking about the same topic of terrific earthquake again and again. We saw many women returning their villages with smiling face, some relief and normalcy. Let’s hope and pray for these people for the sound sleep and normal life again. Appreciated your prayer, financial support, voluntarily assistance...
https:// www.youtube.com/ watch? v=tXe4X36wpmA
VOF’s Seventh Relief Distribution Program at Rasuwa–Nuwakot Soman Rai\VOF RDP’s news Nuwakot\Rasuwa 1St June, 2015Monday Although some months have passed since the 'Gorkha' earthquake, locals of many areas in Rasuwa district hit by quake are still wandering in search of temporary shelter. According to the local administration, Langtang and Haku VDCs are the worst quake-hit areas in the district and thousands of locals have been displaced due to this. Some 500 families of Haku area at Satbise and Betrawati bazaar, the border of Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts, and Santibazaar and Dhunche in Rasuwa. General people of Sano Haku, Thulo Haku, Hakubesi and Haku Mailung are now in panic. They are terrorized as landslide has been taking place across the Trishuli river and lands have developed sinkhole. Some 150 families of ward no 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the Haku VDC are now taking shelter at Satbise and Betrawati. Dinesh Tamang of Haku VDC, who is taking shelter at a camp in Betrawati, said that they were compelled to leave the village as there is no situation to stay there as dry landslide is still taking place. People are living in extremely cramped conditions with their newborn kids, pregnant women and lactating women sharing approximately 4x10m spaces. On 1st June, 2015, with the coordination of Ganesh Shrestha the Scout coordinator of Rasuwa district the VOF Relief Distribution Team(RDT) had gone to Satbise and Betrawati bazaar, the border of Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts, and Santibazaar in Rasuwa to distribute the specific and basic relief materials where 54 pregnant women, 50 newly born baby and mothers and 154 lactating women and babies were benefitted. Among the beneficiaries there was a young pregnant mother with one year old baby who lost her husband, another young man with four kids who also lost his young wife and another baby with her aunt who lost his parents. The team visited their makeshift tent and spent some times with them and comforted them. Their situation is so miserable and panic. They even don’t have the practice of living in such a high temperature for they are the people from high altitude... just can’t imagine and explain the circumstances in which they have been surviving. Oh God have mercy over them! So, Please, Please, Please pray for their quick resettlement from Government.
Some stories!
Very big lost! Sarita Tamang (named changed) is the resident of Haku VDC of Rasuwa. She was happily living with her husband and a daughter and waiting for second baby, because she is 6 month pregnant. She had many beautiful dreams for her family, but her dreams became a nightmare when the massive earthquake hit Nepal along with Rasuwa district. She lost her husband in dry landslide caused by the earthquake and displaced from her village and compelled to live in a makeshift tent. We met her in the camp of Satbise the border of Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts during our Relief distribution Program. We were wordless when we came to know about her situation. However, we spoke some words of condolence and provided relief materials. We shared her situation to other potential organization and churches for her further support. Please pray for her very specially.
Just weeps! The baby ‘Passang’ is one of many who lost his parents due to the dry landslide caused by earthquake in Haku, Rasuwa. Now, he is living with her aunty who already has two kids of her own and she takes care of him. His aunt says that he even doesn’t know what happened to his parents...he just weeps. So she feeds him her breast whenever he cries. He is really innocent. Passang had come to receive relief materials with her aunt. That time he was slept. Her aunt received some emergency relief materials (like Big Blanket, baby blanket, mosquito net, horlicks, baby powder and soup, diapers) for him.
Lets go to mom & home! Baby Kaman used to live with his parents and other three siblings in Haku the very beautiful village in Himalaya. He always used miss her mom whenever she used to go to the forest near by their village in search of dry wood. And whenever his mom used to return from the forest she used to hug and kiss him and feed him. As usual, on 25th April, 2015 Saturday Baby Kaman’s mom kissed him and said to him good bye and went to the forest. But that day, her mom didn’t return home and she is not return yet. In actual, the baby Kaman’s mom was killed in the dry landslide caused by the massive earthquake in Nepal. Today, Baby Kaman lives with his father and siblings in a makeshift tent in Satbise the border of Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts. His father told he is not like before...he is lost and quite...always cries. He doesn’t like the place where they are living now...always says lets go to mom and home. VOF Relief team met him and his father and granted some emergency relief materials. He was happy but not enough like with her mom. Please pray for him and family.
For further information: On the behalf of all those beneficiaries we the Relief team of Voice of Fetus, Nepal would like to express our heartfelt thanks to you all who genuinely supported our relief efforts with your prayer and finance. Please be sure that your valuable gift was remained a real relief to those people in the time of their calamity. May God bless you all!
Voice of Fetus, Nepal GPO 8975 EPC: 2194, Katmandu, Nepal. Email: voiceofetus.np@gmail.com Contact: +977-9841651569 Website: www.vofnepal.org