Nepali churches respond to quake victims

Nepali Anabaptist fellowships assisting affected communities

June 30, 2015 | Web First
Chris Fretz | Eastern Mennonite Missions
Gorkha, Nepal
<p>Because transportation is a huge issue after the earthquakes in Nepal, residents from the affected villages come to central distribution centers and carry supplies back to their homes. (Eastern Mennonite Missions photo)&nbsp;</p>

A group of Nepali Anabaptist fellowships is reaching out to communities affected by the April and May 2015 earthquakes in Nepal, with a goal of assisting 2,000 families. The group is known as Binay Church Council.

“I have been so encouraged by the ways in which these brothers and sisters have first looked to the needs of others in this crisis, rather than their own and have sought to be a blessing to those around them. I believe this will speak volumes throughout these communities of the sacrificial love of Christ,” said Alexander, regional representative in Central Asia for Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM). (His real name is not used to protect believers with whom he works.)

“These earthquakes hit in the heart of the area where Binay has been actively engaged in church planting for years. Those affected include many, many church members and leaders,” said Alexander, who arrived in Nepal within a week of the April 25 earthquake, delivering initial financial assistance from EMM in cash.

Binay Church Council has been providing food supplies, mosquito nets, tarps, roofing material, and other assistance to earthquake survivors in Gorkha and Thumi districts.

They would like to provide assistance to a mountainous village of 150 families in the remote Dhading district. Although there is a road that goes half-way to the village from the highway, many people along the way who also need supplies have been stopping the shipments from reaching these remote areas. Binay church volunteers are planning to invite people to the highway to receive supplies. Many of the villagers will walk one full day to the highway, stay overnight, and then carry the supplies to their homes the next day.

“The geography of the affected areas makes large-scale, coordinated efforts logistically challenging,” said Alexander. EMM has committed an initial $10,000 to assist the Binay Church Council and may provide additional support in the future. Alexander stressed that EMM is working with long-term partners who know the region well and that the relief and reconstruction process will continue in various ways over years. 

Because transportation is a huge issue after the earthquakes in Nepal, residents from the affected villages come to central distribution centers and carry supplies back to their homes. (Eastern Mennonite Missions photo) 

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