My Nepal is not safe, says a Nepali domestic worker
Details
New UPDATE:
Another massive earthquake with a magnitude 7.3 struck Nepal again on Tuesday, 12 May. Sonu and Suk Maya reported safe in her hometown at the moment. IDWF hopes everybody are fine. Pray and support Nepal.
"I am safe but still staying outside open ground because here , the land is still on shaking from time to time , it is so terrible..."
Sonu Danuwar, domestic workers leader in Nepal, HUN, as well as IDWF leader, told IDWF Asian coordinator, Fish Ip, on 28 Apr, 3 days after the initial struck.
The earthquake in Nepal has caused massive devastation of the country. Until now, it has caused over 7,300 loss of lives and 14,000 injured. 500,000 houses are damaged. Among them, 100,000 houses are totally collapsed. The UN estimated one forth of Nepal's population, 8.1 million people, are affected.
Nepalese need immediate help
"The most effected area is Sindhupalchok, Kavre, Kathmandu, Gorkha, Rashes, Nuwakot, Ramechap and other places. In Sindhupalchok alone, the houses were totally damaged. More than 1,300 people died in Sindhupalchok alone. Rescue work is very difficult due to geographical and climate. People don't have shelter and food. Many cattles died which may cause decease. The Nepalese need immediate help." told Pemba Lama, former organizer of domestic workers union in Nepal and now a Parliament member. The Guardians also reported that "No one has come" in the remote areas leaving people with no shelter and food.
The magnitude of the earthquake on 26 Apr was 7.9. There were 100 aftershocks with some of them came with a magnitude of 5 . On 27 Apr night, another aftershock with a magnitude of over 5 struck Darjeeling, the border town in India next to Nepal which is one of the places of origin of many migrant domestic workers.
Bindu Malla, a Nepalese domestic worker working in Hong Kong who has been back to Nepal for holiday, reported she is safe but has lost one family member. Her house was broken.
"I am safe. But my Nepal is not safe." says Bindu.
Houses in Suk Maya neighbourhood collapsed after earthquake. Photo: Suk Maya | Bindu and family stay outside in a remote village near Pokhara. Photo: Bindu Malla |
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"I am in a very remote village near Pokhara. We are safe at the moment. But Kathmandu is a big city. Everything there has been closed. Our road to Kathmandu is also closed now." Bindu said.
Bindu is also the vice-chairperson of Union of Nepalese Domestic Workers in Hong Kong (UNDW).
Suk Maya, a returnee migrant domestic worker from Hong Kong, also reported that she is safe despite a light injury in her knee. She is in Kathmandu and villagers have been staying outside for all these days. Asking if she has enough food, she said "little".
"...I don't know what is going to happen, eyeryday there is shock from earthquake, today evening it is much more strong. I am getting very panic so as everyone are. Oh God please help us overcome this terrible situation. Please bless us god amen. ...Tears cannot be hold, when i think of Kathmandu."
Shobha Pakhrin, another returned migrant domestic worker told IDWF. She is in Kakarvitta, east part of Nepal.
My home now, by Sonu Danuwar | ||
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We have been staying and sleeping outside. Photo: Sonu Danuwar | My home now after the initial earthquake and many after shakes. Photo: Sonu Danuwar | Kathmandu airport roadside. Photo: Sonu Danuwar |
CALL for IMMEDIATE SUPPORT
Both Sonu's and Bindu's unions of domestic workers are contacting their members to check about their situation and needs. They call for urgent support for tents, food and aids to areas especially remote areas where they are mostly struck and devastated. Until now, more than 30 domestic workers are found in dire need of support. Until now, 15 lost their houses, Sonu told IDWF.
SUPPORT NEPAL
Sonu went with a team of 15 people to Kavre district where all houses were gone. .They distributed food, necessary medical packs. The team is formed by individuals who are voluntarily making contributions on their own to reach out from districts to districts to help. Click here - Support Nepal for more information and updates. Please contact Fish Ip, email: [email protected] , IDWF regional coordinator, for the bank account for donation.
Another Nepal based NGO, Swatantrata Abhiyan, is calling for donations to support domestic workers. They plan to provide mid term rehabilitation work for 50 domestic workers, targeting to collect USD7,500. Click HERE for donation details.
Gefont, the trade union center that Sonu's union, HUN, is affiliated to, call for donation and it's details in HERE.
IDWF AFFILIATES' FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES
Hong Kong
Bindu's union, the UNDW, together with Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU), Nepalese Construction Site Workers Union, Hong Kong Federation of Asian Domestic Workers Unions (FADWU) and Far East Overseas Nepalese Association (FEONA) have set up a bank account and call for donation in Hong Kong. Click HERE for details and for your generous support to be collected in Hong Kong.
USA
Adhikaar, a Nepalese immigrants Organization in New York, USA, is calling for donation to support the victims of the earthquake. Adhikaar is one of the most active members of National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), IDWF affiliate in the USA. Please show your generous support for people and the land in Nepal and affected areas, please click Adhikaar's Call-for-Donation page HERE.
Thailand
in Thai, the fundraising details from Network of Domestic Workers in Thailand:
ตอนนี้ทางเครือข่ายลูกจ้างทำงานบ้านในประเทศไทยกำลังรวบรวมเงินบริจาคเพื่อส่งไปชวยเหลือพี่น้องร่วมอาชีพลูกจ้างทำงานบ้านในเนปาลที่กำลังทุกข์ยาก ท่านใด หรือองค์กรใดต้องการร่วมบริจาคติดต่อได้โดยตรงที่เครือข่ายลูกจ้างทำงานบ้านในประเทศไทย 085 3272971 หรือ โอนเงินเข้าบัญชี ครรธรส ปิ่นทอง บัญชีออมทรัพย์เลขที่ 404-457809-3 ธนาคารไทยพาณิชย์สาขา เทอร์มินอล 21 ได้เลยนะคะ เราจะโอนเงินงวดแรกให้กับองค์กรลูกจ้างทำงานบ้านเนปาลในวันที่ 6 พฤษภาคม ค่ะ สำหรับยอดเงินที่ได้รับจะแจ้งให้พวกเราทราบต่อไปนะคะ
Thai Migrant Workers Union in Hong Kong (TMWU) went fundraising with Chuni Thapa, chairperson of UNDW, on 3 May 2015. They went to Kowloon City where Thai migrant domestic workers spent their Sundays and Thai community in Hong Kong situates. |
UNDW were fundraising during May Day Rally in Hong Kong. They collected HKD16,0763.3 (~USD2,074) |
Emm Khantharose, leader of The Network of Domestic Workers in Thailand, called for fundraising for Nepal in facebook. The call has got immediately many donations from domestic workers ลูกจ้างทำงานบ้านในประเทศไทย"
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See more from :
IDWF facebook event page "Hands in hands for Nepal";
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