The Bhutan Media Society (BMS) on Friday said it has decided to continue the ongoing online donation drive until April 15.
A refugee searches his lost items in Sanischare
Following the field visit to both the fire-gutted camps of Jhapa and Morang districts by its speacial team BMS said the conditions of those displaced by fire have been much more pathetic than what appears in media.
“The donation drive will go until April 15 as the displaced people have bigger expectations,” the society’s Manager Vidhyapati Mishra said.
Meanwhile, BMS said the contributions from Europe have been very encouraging considering the least number of people employed after their resettlement.
“The Bhutanese in the Netherlands have contributed US $ 715 while those in Manchester of the United Kingdom have donated £ 520, and such amounts are significant,” added Mishra.
Tara Nidhi Niroula from Manchester told Bhutan News Service that all 34 houses made a donation of £ 1 5 each.
He further said,”The resettled Bhutanese in the United Kingdom have expressed deep grief and solidarity over the devastating fire incidence in Goldhap and Sanichare camps with this contribution as they have shared a part of support they received from the government.”
According to Mishra, resettled Bhutanese in Denmark have said they already contributed US $ 1,851 through the BMS.
“We are deeply saddened to hear the tragic incident about the devastating fire incidents in Goldhap and Sanischare camps,” said President of the Association of Nepali Speaking Bhutanese in Denmark, Thugten Dorjee Drukpa, adding,”We stand by the displaced people to support them with 10,030 Danish Kroner.”
Likewise, a donation drive has been underway in Norway, informed Mishra.
Meanwhile, BMS has asked Bhutanese in other countries to extend their helping hands by making the possible contributions.
“We are expecting similar supports to these people from our fellow-countrymen in other countries, especially the United States of America as it hosts over 38,000 Bhutanese so far.”
At least five among 11 injured in the van crash in Georgia last Tuesday night have been discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon.
Those discharged from the hospital include Gagan Kammar, Amber Ghaley, Birkha Monger, Lok Aley and one Carlos, a national of Ghana. Kammar’s right hand was severed in the accident and still continues to suffer from internal chest pain while Ghaley has head injury and fractures on ribs. It is reportedly learn that Aley still continues to suffer from chest pain.
The condition of Nar Monger, earlier said to be critical, has been improving while Ugen Monger and Kharka Khatiwada continues to struggle against critical stage. “They [Monger and Khatiwada] still remain unconscious in the hospital,” quoted a source from Georgia. Monger’s left hand was severed in the accident and has a serious head injury while Khatiwada has sustained major internal injury in his body.
Quoting Kammar, BM Rai from Atlanta, GA, informed BNS over telephone that most of them [passengers] were asleep at a time when the van crashed and that they do not have any idea about how it crashed. “I was in the hospital when my consciousness had regained,” said Kammar. The condition of Buddha Maya Monger, only woman victim of the accident, is also said to be critical.
Meanwhile, a board meeting of the Bhutanese Community of Georgia (BCG) organized early today morning has formed various teams of volunteers to assist the victims and their families in seeking legal assistance, coordinate with the Perdue Chicken Plant, where victims were working, for the possible compensation, help victims for further medical treatment, among others.
Despite repeated attempts, BNS could not reach out to Bhim Bista, driver of the van, who was discharged from hospital few days back, for comments on how the van had crashed.
A 15-seater van carrying 13 Bhutanese and two African nationals bound to Perry from Atlanta in Georgia crashed Tuesday night at around 9:00 p.m. leaving two dead and all passengers injured.
“A tire blew out,” reported one online portal www.macon.com, quoting Allison Selman-Willis, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman, as the cause of the incident. According to Sheriff’s office, the Chevy 3500 15-passenger van traveled off the road near mile marker 197 in the southbound lanes and overturned. Contributed by BM Rai for BNS from Atlanta, GA.
The Bhutan Media Society has launched an online donation drive with an aim of assisting the fire victims of Goldhap and Sanischare camps. Donate to fire victims online.
The Bhutan Media Society has launched an online donation drive with an aim of assisting the fire victims of Goldhap and Sanischare camps. Donate to fire victims online.
By Fr Amalraj, Damak
The day was March 22. It is hard to believe that two fire accidents could take place on the same day in two refugee camps. From all information collected in both the camps, it was accidental and not purposely done.
It was 7:22 am when fire broke out in one of the houses in Goldhap. The blowing wind carried the flame from hut to hut. The fire became uncontrollable. In ninety minutes, 512 huts out of 605 were reduced to ashes. Fire brigade was called. They moved into action and yet they could not arrest the fast spreading fire. Along with the huts our Child Play Centre and Youth Friendly Centre were totally consumed by fire and nothing could be salvaged. All the materials in our Palliative Care Centre were burnt out. The fire also engulfed the Health Centre run by Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA) Nepal.
The Caritas/JRS Nepal team was the first to reach Goldhap and be with the victims of fire. As our school has brick wall
Elderly fire victim checks her belongings in Goldhap/Jeetan Subba
and tin sheet roofing, it was not affected. Hence it has become now the shelter for about 3,800 people displaced by fire. The Armed Police Force (APF) at Goldhap and additional deployed force helped the fire brigade in fire fighting. And, they also provided the needed security for the fire victims.
A task force consisting of the camp Refugee Coordinating Unit Supervisor, Camp Secretary, Field Assistant of UNHCR and one member from each of the Implementing Partners (Caritas Nepal, AMDA, TPO and LWF) of UNHCR, IOM and WFP was formed to coordinate the relief operation. Each Agency was asked what would be its contribution.
As Caritas Nepal’s main mandate is education and as the class ten Common Board Exam was commencing on 24th March, we said that we would look after our 78 students who would be appearing for this exam from 24th March to 1st of April by giving them all the books and stationeries, by providing board and lodge and other facilities at Deonia Jesuit School so that the students could concentrate and write their exam peacefully even though their huts are being burnt down and that they have lost everything.
The Nepal Red Cross Society came forward to give a package of one blanket, one Sari, three cooking pots, two plates, two bowls, two glasses and a tarpaulin sheet. The World Food Programme promised to give special ration. The AMDA Nepal said it will run the health centre in the make shift tent.
Likewise, the Lutheran World Federation committed to supply protected drinking water and sanitation. TPO said that they would provide trauma counselling. The APF and the Camp Watch Team would provide the security. As people had not taken any food and had lost everything as it would take longer time to start community kitchens, this task force requested Caritas/JRS Nepal as it has done previously when fire accidents had occurred in the camp to provide a minimum quantity of ready made food to all the victims. We bought 130 cartons of instant noodles for 3,800 fire victims and six cartons of biscuits for children of under two years costing Rs. 45,000.
Caritas Field Director Fr Amalraj (third from left in the first row) inspecting Goldhap camp on April 24, 2008. Like this time, a huge fire had turned the camp into ashes in May 2008 too/Vidhyapati Mishra
The local radio stations have published the news of this fire break out and the camp was burning uncontrollably. Hearing this news about 4,000 refugees from the other six camps came to Goldhap by hiring buses, trucks, tractors, mini vans and by cycles to express solidarity and to offer solace. There were another one thousand locals who had come to see the devastation. About fifty core team members of the Youth Friendly Centres from the six camps volunteered to render any service to the fire victims. They were formed into three teams to identify and help the old, sick and the disabled people, to assist the camp management committee in the distribution of food and other relief supplies, and to be at the service of AMDA in rendering first aid.
As per the camp consolidation and merger plan, Goldhap Camp was supposed to be merged with Beldangi Camps and it would be closed by 30th June. What an irony it was to see the camp burnt down in this manner! Since all the people of Goldhap Camp were supposed to be relocated from April 4th to 30th June one wonders what type of temporary shelters that UNHCR provides for these people. Goldhap fire disaster is a massive one and its impact is heavy on the victims. Relief has to be provided to this people whether they have opted or not opted for resettlement.
As we were planning and mobilizing the immediate relief at Goldhap around 2:30 pm we heard that there is another fire accident at Sanischare Camp. We didn’t believe it initially. The phone calls one after another conformed that it was true. The fire broke out around 2:25 pm in one of the huts in Sector B/2 and in forty-five minutes hundred and eighty huts were reduced to ashes. As all the fire brigades were busy in Goldhap by the time they could reach Sanischare the fire was brought under control.
As the space between the rows of huts was very narrow, people could not salvage anything. They left everything to be consumed by the fire and protected only themselves. Some of our office staff who remained in the office immediately rushed to Sanischare camp. We from Goldhap camp reached Sanischare at 4:30 pm. By the time the fire was extinguished.
Yet, it was a heart breaking sight to see the cooking vessels, the water pots, the tin boxes, cycles, tailoring machines etc all in melted form. The fire had consumed whatever it could. In the midst of burnt smell the hut holders were digging the ashes to find out their lost valuables. We have opened out our schools as shelter to these people.
The scene after fire in Sanischare/Prakash Angdembe
The refugee community unaffected by fire decided together to cook the food by pulling their own rations and feed them at night. The fire victims of Sanischare may have shelter in the schools and food for the night but they would not be able to sleep as they have totally lost everything. During their twenty years of stay what little they acquired they have lost. They remain inconsolable. As the refugees had gone to Goldhap camp, they could not return to Sanischare to express the same solidarity and solace. The locals from their nearby Pathri town and surrounding villages came in big crowds and expressed their solidarity and sympathy.
The real relief operation at Sanischare would commence tomorrow morning. Sanischare is supposed to be one of the two permanent camps where the people of Khudunabari camps will be relocated from 2012 January. We don not know when these burnt down huts are going to be reconstructed and when the people will resume their normal life. Fortunately on Monday 21st we had shifted our 151 students of class ten to Beldangi camps for their board exam. We will provide them every facility over there so that they could write their exam without any tension or worry.
As we go to attend the meeting tomorrow request will be made to Caritas/JRS Nepal for relief. We have to accompany, assist and advocate the cause of these people at this hour of their need. We need financial support from donors and benefactors for the relief operation that Caritas/JRS Nepal wishes to carry out. Relief delayed is relief denied. Caritas/JRS Nepal wishes to begin the operation immediately. As we gather more details and data of the fire victims we will prepare a proposal and place before you for your support. We will also send you constant updates on the relief carried out for these fire victims.
(Amalraj is the Field Director of Caritas Nepal, Damak Field Office)
The funeral rites of late Kharka Chhetri Bhandari (49) and Tula Ram Chamlagai (44), who died in a van crash in Georgia on Tuesday night completed today at the same funeral home in accordance with the Hindu tradition.
An estimated 500 plus Bhutanese, including the representatives from refugee resettlement agencies, well-wishers of Bhutanese in the neighborhood in Atlanta, paid their last tributes to late Bhandari and Chamlagai at the funeral home.
The dead bodies of deceased, late Chamlagai (front row) and late Bhandari inside coffin at the funeral home after fellow Bhutanese offered last tributes. Photo/Pasupati Timsina.
All other fellow Bhutanese friends of the deceased, including some non-Bhutanese who wished to attend the funeral processing, were permitted to take a paid-day off from the Perdue chicken processing plant in Perry. The two deceased and all other survivors of the van-accident were working at the Perdue chicken processing plant in Perry.
Mike Dyle, the Superintendent of the ‘D Bone Section’ at the Perdue chicken plant, who attended the funeral processing, said that his company was saddened by the accident news. “They (deceased) were hardworking and good employee at our company,” said Dyle, adding that his company will miss them. Expressing his condolence to the bereaved family, Dyle also wished for the speedy recovery of those injured in the accident.
Meanwhile, Salai, whose last name could not be confirmed immediately, night shift supervisor at the Perdue chicken plant visited the house of bereaved family to express condolence. Salai also consoled the bereaved family members of both the deceased.
It is reportedly learnt that the condition of one Nar Monger, among 11 injured in the accident, is very critical.
A 15-seater van carrying 13 Bhutanese and two African nationals bound to Perry from Atlanta in Georgia crashed Tuesday night at around 9:00 p.m. leaving two dead and all passengers injured.
“A tire blew out,” reported one online portal www.macon.com, quoting Allison Selman-Willis, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman, as the cause of the incident. According to Sheriff’s office, the Chevy 3500 15-passenger van traveled off the road near mile marker 197 in the southbound lanes and overturned.
Contributed by Kamal Dahal for BNS from Atlanta, Georgia.
The Bhutan Media Society has launched an online donation drive with an aim of assisting the fire victims of Goldhap and Sanischare camps. Donate to fire victims online.
Separate fire breaks out on Tuesday in Goldhap and Sanischare refugee camps have displaced around 4,000 refugees. The mishap destroyed over 600 huts while dozens of huts were dismantled to prevent further damages. Jeetan Subba of Bhutan News Service and Prakash Angdembe of International Creators’ Forum visited both the camps upon hearing the news. Here are some of the pictures they snapped in Goldhap and Sanischare camps.
Burnt Huts
A refugee woman in her burnt hut
Elderly fire victim checks her belongings in Goldhap/Jeetan Subba
Woman being taken to AMDA Health Center in Goldhap
Fire fighter loads water in Devyani River in Goldhap
Refugees and security personnel inspect the site in Sanischare/Prakash Angdembe
The scene after fire in Sanischare/Prakash Angdembe
The funeral rites of late Kharka Chhetri Bhandari (49) and Tula Ram Chamlagai (44), who died in a van crash in Georgia yesterday, is scheduled for tomorrow.
According to Kamal Dahal, who has been reporting about the incident to BNS from Georgia, the funeral processing will be organized in accordance with the Hindu culture and tradition.
Late Kharka Chhetri Bhandari. Photo source/family
BM Khaling, quoting some employee friends of those who met accident, identified the names of those injured in the accident, which include Ugen Mongar (formerly from Beldangi-II extension), Bhim Bista (driver of the van, formerly from Sanischare camp), Gagan Kammar Chhetri (formerly from Beldangi-II camp), Nar B. Magar (formerly from Sanischare camp) and Amber Ghaley (formerly from Beldangi-II camp). Buddha Maya Monger, Birkha Monger, Devi Niroula, Lok B. Monger, Balaram Khatiwada, Khadga Khatiwada, whose former address either in Bhutan or Nepal unconfirmed yet, are among others injured.
The two African nationals, who sustained injuries in the accident, are identified as Rebicca and Carlos, whose condition is not yet known.
Khaling further informed BNS that among the injured, Nar Bahadur Monger and Gagan Kammar are undergoing treatment in critical condition while Bhim Bista has been discharged after primary treatment.
Late Chamlagai. Photo courtesy/family.
A 15-seater van carrying 13 Bhutanese and two African nationals bound to Perry from Atlanta in Georgia had crashed last night at around 9:00 p.m. leaving two dead and all passengers injured. The passengers were traveling from the Atlanta area to work at the Perdue chicken processing plant in Perry.
“A tire blew out,” reported one online portal www.macon.com, quoting Allison Selman-Willis, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman, as the cause of the incident. According to Sheriff’s office, the Chevy 3500 15-passenger van traveled off the road near mile marker 197 in the southbound lanes and overturned.
Late Bhandari, a permanent resident of Samchi district in Bhutan, is survived by his wife and two sons while late Chamlagai, a permanent resident of Tshirang district, is survived by his mother, wife and two children. Both of them were refugees from Beldangi-II camp resettled in Atlanta, GA.
Kathmandu-based Bhutan Media Society (BMS) has appealed the fellow-Bhutanese to support the fire victims of Goldhap and Sanischare camps.
Starting an online donation box with an aim of garnering supports from the Bhutanese Diaspora, BMS said the conditions of over 3,000 Bhutanese refugees of both the camps have been pathetic and need urgent attention.
Those persons who are interested to make their donations available to the fire victims can contribute online.
“The preliminary field study conducted by the Society shows that children and elderly citizens displaced by fire are most vulnerable, and need prompt attention,” BMS Manager, Vidhyapati Mishra, said on Wednesday.
According to Mishra, several organizations are already in the field to assist refugees through various means, however, proper studies have not been done in both the camps regarding the kind of supports each victim needs.
“Our camp representatives have been coordinating with the Camp Management Committees and affected people to figure out the groups that need to be reached most importantly,” added he.
In Goldhap, a significant number of fire victims are children and women requiring proper attentions before reaching to youths, students, teachers and camp volunteers, according to Mishra.
The Caritas Nepal has provided School Leaving Certificate (SLC) appearing students with their textbooks, and now these students are housed outside the camp.
The Society, which conducted similar donation drives during past fire incidents in the camps, said it will play a fair role to make the donated money reached out to the most deserving groups or individuals in both the camps.
“The Bhutan Media Society requests all the resettled Bhutanese, their community organizations and well-wishers to participate in the campaign to support the fire victims by making possible cash donations,” added he.
He further said that the collected money will be handed over to the targeted refugees by making public the details of all transactions carried out through the official website of the Bhutan News Service.
Contributions made :
Bhutanese Community in the Netherlands, USD 718 [510 Euros] (Donors’ List)
Bhutanese in Manchester (England), 520 £ (Donor’s List)
Bhutanese in Denmark (ANSDB),1965.48 USD [10649 DKK](Donors’ List)
Bhutanese Community of Twin Falls, Idaho, USA, 500 USD(Donors’ List)
Bhutanese Community Resource Center (BCRC), USA, 1493 USD (Donors’ List)
Bhutanese Community of Tennessee (BCT), USA, 120 USD
Bhutanese Society of Kentucky, USA, 806 USD
Bhutanese Community in Melbourne, Rs 76,125 (1015 AUD) (Donors’ List)
Association of Bhutanese in Norway, 2160USD [12202 NOK] (Donors’ List)
Bhutanese in South Australia,Adelaide, 142 USD (Donors’ List)
A 15-seater van carrying 13 Bhutanese and two African nationals bound to Perry from Atlanta in Georgia crashed last night at around 9:00 p.m. leaving two dead and all passengers injured. The passengers were traveling from the Atlanta area to work at the Perdue chicken processing plant in Perry.
“A tire blew out,” reported one online portal www.macon.com, quoting Allison Selman-Willis, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman, as the cause of the incident.
According to Sheriff’s office, the Chevy 3500 15-passenger van traveled off the road near mile marker 197 in the southbound lanes and overturned.
Kamal Dahal from Georgia informed BNS over telephone that all of the passengers in the Van, who sustained injuries, are undergoing medical treatment at the Macon City Hospital.
According to DJ Khaling, Kharka Chhetri (49) and Tula Ram Chamlagai (44), both residents of Valley Brook Apartments in Decatur Georgia were “medically” pronounced dead. One of the dead bodies was being sent to a funeral home in Decatur while the other is not yet released.
Khaling also siad that the situation of two among five others admitted in ICU (Intensive Care Unit) has been critical. The victims have been reportedly suffering head injuries and limb fractures.
Excluding two, all other 13 passengers—11 injured and two deceased, are Bhutanese resettled in Atlanta, Georgia over last three years through the International Organization for Migration.
The Government of Nepal (GoN) has provided Rs 1500 each for every burnt house in Goldhap camp, Wednesday.
As assured by Chief District Officer of Jhapa district, Sashi Shekhar Shrestha yesterday, the support has been made available to the fire- affected refugees through the disaster management fund, Camp Secretary Chiranjibi Rai told Bhutan News Service.
“In the initial phase, refugees have received Rs 1500 for every damaged hut from the District Administration Office,” Rai said.
The Nepal Red Cross Society has provided plastic for making temporary tents. The displaced refugees have been taking shelter in the camp school and community forest at the close vicinity of the camp.
Meanwhile, Caritas Nepal has taken all students appearing for this year’s School Leaving Certificates (SLC) to a local school, where they will be housed throughout their examinations.
According to the Caritas, 79 students are writing the SLC examinations start from Thursday until April 3.
“We will support their transportation, shelter and food throughout their exams period, by keeping them outside the camp,” Secondary Education Coordinator LN Pokhrel, who reached the camp earlier today, told.
Meanwhile, the Country Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees visited Sanischare camp this afternoon.
The UNHCR Chief personally met some of the fire victims in the camp and listened at their problems, according to the BNS correspondent.
Camp Secretary Campa Singh Rai said, “He has assured all possible supports to the displaced refugees mobilizing all the partner organisations.”
Chief District Officer (CDO) of Morang district Suresh Adhikari informed the calculated loss in the Sanischare camp was Rs 920,000.
“So far we have received ration and some eateries. The fire victims are expecting more to rebuild their huts,” the Camp Secretary added.
According to CDO Adhikari, 102 huts in the Sanischare camp were gutted by fire, while 25 were dismantled to prevent the further damage on Tuesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that the UNHCR and GoN have been preparing to expedite the consolidation of the Goldhap camp into Beldangi camps.
“The displaced refugees from Goldhap will be taken to Beldangi camps very soon,” a highly placed source told BNS, “We are not providing the construction materials to fire victims of this camp.”
(With inputs from Tilak Niraula in Goldhap and Lakpa Tamang in Sanischare)
