E A R T H Q U A K E   R E L I E F

Khenpo Sonam Requests Your Immediate Help

On April 14, 2010, a devastating 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the Tibetan area of Kyegundo (Yushu) at 7:49 am local time in the Qinghai Province. An estimated 80% of the buildings have collapsed. The number of casualties and the death toll increases daily from the initial Chinese state media report of 300 into the thousands. The actual death toll remains unclear — Kyegundo is home to over 100,000 residents. Those fortunate enough to still be alive have lost everything. The weather in Kyegundo is cold and extremely windy with overnight temperatures around -5°C in April.

As is the case for any disaster that leaves many homeless and without access to adequate medical supplies, shelter, and food, the number of casualties could rise dramatically. Kyegundo is a Tibetan county located approximately 800km southwest of the city of Xining. Over 90% of the people who have died in Kyegundo are Tibetans. Those remaining have been left in a situation where relief is difficult to obtain.

Our branch Taklung Monastery and Thrangu Monastery have collapsed along with many other smaller monasteries in the area. The main Kyegundo Monastery has partially collapsed. The monasteries are not only pillars of Tibetan culture and learning, but also provide vital support to the deeply spiritual Tibetan communities.

Hundreds of monks from neighboring unaffected areas have rushed to help, bringing blankets, tents, and food supplies. In addition, monks are continually offering prayers as thousands of corpses are being thrown into massive funeral pyres.

Unfortunately, this remote area will not receive the high profile attention given to other recent disasters. Therefore, Rinpoche is asking his students and friends to make a special effort to help the people of Kyegundo. The urgent humanitarian need is enormous in the short-term, and in the longer term toward rebuilding their community.

Please make your cheque out to Riwoche Society (ensuring you indicate "Earthquake Relief") and mail to the Temple at our address below or donate online now.

Riwoche Society is a non-profit registered charity in both Canada and the United States. Riwoche Society guarantees all funds donated for Earthquake Relief will go directly to those left most vulnerable in the aftermath of the earthquake in Kyegundo and the surrounding devastated communities.

Images of the disaster

A Tibetan monk stands beside the hundreds of dead bodies wrapped in cloth at Kyegundo Monastery.
 

Quake survivor Sonam, 52, who has lost ten members of her family in the disaster, gestures in prayer while holding her nephew on April 16, 2010.