Rehabilitation for tornado victims challenging

Dear Editor Bhutan News Service:

I am glad to see Bhutan News Service has improved its performance and is now updating the current situation of Bhutanese resettled who became homeless as result of tornado disaster in West Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, every few hours to keep its readers informed of latest developments.

Bhutan News Service now has added photos of those Bhutanese resettled victims who are living in shelter in West Springfield’s Middle School, and other details.

Mr. Bhuwan Gautam, Massachusetts based Bhutan News Service correspondent, and Mr. Sudarsan Gautam, Springfield, Massachusetts based Bhutan News Service correspondent, and Mr. Ram Rai, a highly respected Bhutanese social worker, all three of them have become very active in helping the victims, and have sent their detailed reports on tornado disaster in West Springfield, Massachusetts, to Bhutan News Service. All three of them have spent hours in the shelter, helping the victims filling out different forms and assisting in many ways. I appreciate their services to Bhutanese community members.

As a matter of fact, I met the permanent reporter of Bhutan News Service for Springfield, MA, in the shelter, and found out that he was away from Massachusetts for last few days and that is why he was unable to send his report to BNS earlier. Please accept my sincere apology for criticizing Mr. Sudarsan Gautam, using a harsh tone, and demanding his replacement. But please be assured my intention was not to insult anyone but I just wanted to make a point that millions of readers depend on Bhutan News Service all across the world, and a delay in reporting important developments, does not look good on part of BNS, especially, when BNS has not only one but two permanent reporters in the same city of Springfield. Massachusetts.

Few of Bhutanese resettled in shelters have told me that they were facing a serious problem of not getting opportunity to take shower properly. I have talked to many of Bhutanese victims of tornado, living in both shelters, and I have been told that the city officials put them on a special bus to take them to another location that has bathroom/shower rooms, and then the same bus brings them back to the shelter, and that is very inconvenient to the victims.

Another issue I must mention here is that many victims have started visiting their damaged homes, that have clearly been marked by city officials as “UNSAFE”, in big letters in red ink, to collect their belongings or just to live there for few hours, to cook food or take shower in their old homes. I think visiting heavily damaged homes, without Police escort, permission or supervision is very dangerous and risky. Any wall or any roof or any window or door can all at any time, and can hurt whoever is there. Bhutanese victims need to stop entering their damaged and dangerous homes, especially when they have been ordered by Police not to enter for their own safety.

I witnessed one Bhutanese family went back to their damaged home on George Street, West Springfield to collect their clothes, TV and other belongings with an Indian social worker, Mr. Vijay Dalal. A Police officer became nervous and called for back up, on his wireless radio, after noticing some youngsters were trying to enter the damaged house. Few Police cars responded within minutes, and warned them to keep out.

Some Bhutanese families from Westfield and other areas cook food for the victims and bring it to the shelter. Many victims eat that Nepali food and do not touch American fresh and nourishing food provided by shelter officials. As a result, that American food is wasted. Many victims insist on getting rice only but officials cannot serve them same food (Rice), all the times, because they want to provide the victims with fresh, healthy and balanced food. Eating rice three times a day obviously is not healthy. There are victims from many nationalities, like Pakistan, Burma, Iraq, Somalia and other countries, and the Government officials cannot serve just Nepali food for all of the victims.

A local phone company has agreed to donate new cellular phones to all of the shelter residents, with unlimited minutes calls, and residents are very happy to receive new cellular phones for free.

I have been told that all the victims will be accommodated in new homes soon the new homes become available. Let us hope all of the tornado victims will be moved to new homes soon, and they will start living their lives normally.

I congratulate my Bhutanese resettled friends on the fact that none of them lost life or got hurt seriously. Losing homes, properties and valueables, ofcourse is very sad but my Bhutanese resettled friends have reason to smile, celeberate, be thankful to Almighty God, and be happy.

Mr. Shahid M. Pasha, Massachusetts, USA

Dear Editor BNS and readers:

I want to keep readers of Bhutan News Service informed of latest developments related to Bhutanese victims of tornado in West Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, and that is why I am sending my latest report to Bhutan News Service.

Bhutanese resettled who have become the victims of tornado disaster, have spent five nights in the shelters, and they are getting used to the life in a shelter. About 70 of them are staying at “Philip G. Coburn Elementary School” in West Springfield.

They are free to go outside after signing out, and most of them, do not just sit and stare at the walls of the shelter all the times, but they go outside to visit their other Bhutanese friends whose homes have not been damaged, or go somewhere else. Many Bhutanese from other areas also come to the shelters to visit their Bhutanese victim brothers and sisters, be with them for a while, just to make them feel that they are not alone in this difficult time.

I have been told by a city official that residents would be allowed to go through the rebels of their flattened homes in next few days after construction workers separate debris and rubble, and all of their properties and valuables would be put on ground for them to collect, so they must wait, and must not climb up the rebel to search for their valuables, because it is very dangerous and risky and the pieces of glass and nails and other sharp objects are scattered all over.

It is my understanding that West Springfield Police Department is not happy with that Indian social worker, Mr. Vijay Dalal, who took about a dozen Bhutanese underage boys and girls to George Street, and asked them to climb up the rebel to search for important documents and items. This Indian social worker, who is known to work for Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (MDCF) was filmed, photographed, caught on tape and reported in local media for putting the safety and welfare of young children at risk, and for defying the orders of Police not to cross the line (Yellow tape). West Springfield Police Department has put double yellow tape around the flattened apartment building after this unpleasant incident, and it is my understanding that if someone tries to climb up the “Do Not Cross” yellow tape, or asked young Bhutanese children to go through the rubble again, will be arrested for braking the law and for endangering the welfare of the children.

Yesterday (On Sunday, June 5, 2011), I was able to spend almost all day in the shelter, and I observed two positive developments:

A young Bhutanese lady, whose house has been completely destroyed, and she is staying in the shelter with her family, celebrated her high school graduation ceremony at her local high school, returned to the shelter at about 3:30 p.m., and smiled to see all residents, city and State officials, including American Red Cross, Department of Health, Police officers and other officials and visitors were waiting for her to celebrate her graduation ceremony all over again with her. Soon she walked in with her high school friends, all the guests in the hall clapped their hands, cheered, and congratulated her on her graduation. Fresh, hot and delicious Indian food, cakes and drinks were served to all the guests in the party.

This food was provided by a local Indian restaurant, “Pintoo”, located just a few hundreds feet away from this shelter, on Elm Street, West Springfield, at no cost. The owner of this restaurant has offered free food to any victim whoever wishes to visit the restaurant, until these victims find places to live.

The other good thing I observed today that Bhutanese children, youngsters and adults, including the victims and the visitors, all got together and played football, volleyball and other games in the shelter’s large playground for few hours, and had a good time. I was glad to see all of them forgetting all about tragedy of losing homes ad properties, for time being, and just having good time and enjoying their lives.

Local Muslim community, “Islamic Society of Western Massachusetts”, Churches, other organizations, businesses, and even ordinary citizens also have approached the shelter to offer their donations and help. As a matter of fact, so many of ordinary citizens have walked into the shelter and donated clothes, toys, strollers, and many other items that the shelter officials have posted a sign on the main entrance door that no more donations are accepted because there is not any rook left to store them. This does not mean that the victims do not need any help. Actually, the victims need cash assistance more than any other donation like clothes or toys.

So many organizations are contacting the shelter to learn whom to contact to reach out to Bhutanese victims, but unfortunately, phone numbers to reach local Bhutanese leaders are not easily available.
If someone wants to send donations to any tornado victim, donations are being accepted at “United Bank”, located at 95 Elm Street, West Springfield, Massachusetts.
Organizations and individuals who want to send donations only to Bhutanese victims of tornado, they can contact the following persons. I would be happy to share their contact information in detail via email. Please feel free to write me at: [email protected] or make correspondence through your own contacts in MA.

Mr. Hari Khanal, President of Bhutanese Society of Western Massachusetts (BSWM)
Bhutanese social worker, Mr. Ram Rai
Pastor Ashok Naar of Lutheran Social Services
Mr. Meenu Gopal Budathoki, of Lutheran Bhutanese Church

A shelter or a refugee camp is never a substitute to a home, and I hope all of the tornado victims will be able to start their normal lives after new homes are found for them.

Mr. Shahid M. Pasha, Massachusetts, USA.

Dear Editor BNS and readers:

Here is new development for today, Monday, June 6, 2011: Both of the shelters set up in West Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, for tornado victims (Mostly Bhutanese resettled), have been closed. All of the residents have been transferred to Moses Dormitory, 4-H, Gate-2, inside of Big-E exposition Center, Memorial Drive, West Springfield, MA, after spending 5 nights at two different shelters.

The President of Bhutanese Society of Western Massachusetts, Mr. Hari Khanal, and other leaders including Mr. Hari Ghorshaie, Mr. Ram Koirala, Mr. Bandu Adhikari, and other Bhutanese dignities like Mr. Chhatra Basnet, Miss Mohinee Ghorshaie, Miss Khina Kharka (Niece of Shaheed K.B. Kharka), Mr. Indra Banya, Mr. Narapati Kafley, Mr. Subhash Majhi, and many others also visited Bhutanese resettled in the old and new shelters.

Many victims like this new shelter much better than other two shelters, because it is much larger. The victims do not have to go to any other location on bus to take shower. However, there are only 10 showers (Common shower rooms, not individual shower rooms), for all (About 100) of the residents here.

All school children must get up very early in the morning to take school buses, without eating their breakfast. They will be served breakfast soon after arriving their schools. Lunches also will be served in their schools.

There are about 75 Bhutanese resettled and about 25 of others are Pakistanis, Iraqis, Burmese and other nationalities. All Bhutanese are put together in one large room, and other victims are put together in the next large room. Both rooms are located on 2nd floor, next to each other. Food will be served downstairs on first floor, and all residents must come to 1st floor to eat food because eating food on 2nd floor (bed rooms area) will not be allowed.

Muslim residents will not be served pork, Hindu residents will not be served beef and pork, and Christian residents will be served both, pork and beef.

Residents are allowed to go outside anytime they want to, but they must return to the shelter before or at 9:00 p, or they will not be allowed to enter the shelter after 9:00 p.m. Visitors are allowed to visit all day but they must leave by 9:00 p.m.

Nobody knows for how long these victims will have to stay here before going back to their new homes, but I guess it will take at least few more weeks or even months.

Let us all hope all of the residents of this new shelter, will be able to go back to their new homes as soon as possible.

Mr. Shahid M. Pasha, Massachusetts, USA.

Dear Editor and readers:

Following are today (Tuesday, June 7, 2011)’s developments:

I have learned that donations of cash ($20 from each Bhutanese family, whose homes are not damaged in Westfield, Massachusetts area) have been collected to help those Bhutanese families whose homes have been damaged by June 02, 2011’s tornado.

A social worker (Born in India), Mr. Vijay Dalal has been visiting the shelters set up by American Red Cross for tornado victims, almost every day to offer his help, and my report will not be fair, balanced, unbiased or complete without mentioning his services to Bhutanese resettled. Honestly, he has spent more time in these shelters than any other Bhutanese leader or dignity. Nobody can question his sincerity and his devotion. It is easier to spend and donate money but it is very difficult here in America, to spend time because everybody living here in America is busy all the times. I have tremendous respect for Mr. Vijay Dalal, and I will never forget his services to Bhutanese resettled here in Western Massachusetts. I salute Mr. Vijay Dalal for his sincere efforts and services to Bhutanese resettled. As a matter of fact, all Bhutanese resettled, owe him a big THANKYOU.

I personally disagree with him over his action of crossing blockade set up by local Police around flattened building where many Bhutanese lived until tornado hit this building and destroyed it, and encouraging Bhutanese youngsters (Including at least one under 18 Bhutanese young girl from Westfield, Massachusetts) to go through rubble and debris that contained many sharp objects like glass, nails and many others. Mr. Vijay Dalal has announced on CBS TV’s website, in is comment posted that he would do that again, and he would do that every day, but I think this issue has been resolved because local Police, city officials and State officials are aware of the situation after a video of Mr. Vijay Dalal forcefully and illegally entering the rubble was shown on America’s number one national television station, CBS and Police officers from West Springfield Police Department and Massachusetts State Police Department are patrolling this site almost 24 hours a day, and obviously nobody will be allowed to break the law by forcefully and illegally entering the site that has been declared unsafe and off limits to the public. (Here in America, entering an area that has been declared unsafe or off limits to public, by Police, is a serious crime and a violator can be arrested and jailed).This video can be viewed at http://www.cbs3springfield.com (“Refugee Finds Identity In Rubbel”).

The new shelter set up in Big E exposition center on Memorial Drive, West Springfield was empty in the afternoon today because most of its residents probably had gone to their Bhutanese friends homes whose homes have not been damaged in the area. Many of the residents of this shelter, reportedly are spending hours in their old and damaged homes, cooking, cleaning, or sleeping, even after all of them were warned by Police Department not to enter their unsafe homes. All the damaged homes in the area have been clearly marked in red letters and former residents of these homes were warned by Police that entering these homes again can cause serious injury or even death.

In my honest opinion, these Bhutanese friends are taking a very big risk by entering their damaged homes and staying there for hours every day, and use shelter only to sleep at night. I do not understand why someone would want to go back to those homes whose weak walls or roofs can fall on them at any time?

I think it is not the case that the City or State officials are not aware what is going on, but it is my understanding that the city officials just do not want to take a strong action against those Bhutanese resettled who are openly disobeying the orders issued by the Government, because the Government officials know all about Bhutanese resettled peoples tragedies and difficulties, and they are very much sympathized with Bhutanese community.

Let us all hope no one gets hurt. No one is willing to hear any other bad news, because we already had enough of bad news.

Mr. Shahid M. Pasha, Massachusetts, USA.

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