COVID-19 Surge: Urgent Appeal for Tibetan refugees in India

UPDATE (2) 7/05/2021

COVID Surge in Delhi: Help Tibetan Cancer Society

Delhi is currently the world's biggest hotspot for COVID-19 and an increasing number of Tibetan refugees are facing hardships in the Indian capital.

Thanks to NGOs like the Tibetan Cancer Society, the refugee community in Delhi and neighbouring states are getting some much needed help. Volunteers from the Tibetan Cancer Society are working day and night, ferrying patients as well as vital oxygen supplies between Delhi and neighbouring states.

The Lelung Dharma Trust is helping to procure an ambulance to support the ongoing work of Tibetan Cancer Society.

An ambulance costs £ 24,000 (approx.)

Please support whatever you can afford. 100% of funds raised (your donations) will be donated to the intended purpose.

Thank you, Lelung Tulku

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UPDATE (1) 7/05/2021

India COVID-19 Relief for Tibetan refugee community

Heres a quick update. Thanks to your generous response, we have now raised the initial target.

During these past few weeks, we have been in regular contact with our partners in India, including with senior Tibetan medical doctors, health officials, community leaders as well as NGO workers in Delhi, Dehradun, Dharamsala and Mundgod.

Based on the urgent needs and requests, our initial extended support of £7,663 for the affected Tibetan settlements in Dehradun (north) and Mundgod (south India), was sent to the Department of Health, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Dharamsala for the following purposes:

A. COVID-19 Urgent Relief for Dekyiling Tibetan Settlement, Dehradun (£2,254), north India

1. Stipends for 4 full-time nurses:

Rs 15,000 per month X 4 nurses = Rs 60,0000 monthly

For 3 months: Rs 60,000 X 3 = Rs 180,000

2. Stipends for 2 part-time nurses:

Rs 7,500 per month x 2 nurses = Rs 15,000 monthly

For 3 months, Rs 15,000 x 3 = Rs 45,000

(Total Stipends for 6 nurses: Rs 2,25,000)

B. Top-up Salary for 1 Medical Doctor at Doeguling Tibetan Settlement, Mundgod

(£5,409), south India

1. Top-up salary for 1 Medical Doctor:

Rs 45,000 per month x 12 months = Rs 5,40,000

For one year, Rs 5,40,000 (Five hundred and forty-thousand rupees)

The Doeguling Tibetan Settlement in Mundgod, one of the largest Tibetan refugee settlements in India, currently has no resident doctor. With this urgent relief grant from Lelung Dharma Trust and support from the CTA Department of Health, the local Settlement Officer has now recruited a Tibetan doctor, who will soon start treating patients. (More updates soon)

Total amount: Rs 7,65,000 (Seven hundred and sixty-five thousand rupees)

COVID-19 continues to cause great hardship, isolation and fear locally and will continue to do so for many months, despite vaccinations being administered. India, the world’s second largest population, has now been badly hit by this second wave and, due to this surge, the Tibetan community there is facing great hardship, including increased illness and deaths within the refugee camps. A shortage of oxygen and other medical supplies is now a growing concern too.

Naturally, I am very saddened by this deteriorating situation. In addition to prayers, the Lelung Dharma Trust has pledged an initial £10,000 to support the emergency needs of the Tibetan refugee community in north and south India. As the needs arise, we are now launching this urgent appeal for help to support the efforts of the Tibetan refugee community to tackle the COVID problem and associated illnesses in India.

Therefore, I urge you to lend your support, no matter how small, by responding to this appeal compassionately. Your response would make a huge difference to the lives of the Tibetan refugee community in India. I hope you will consider giving support to this urgent appeal, today.

100% of the funds raised - your donation - will support the cost of covering doctors’ fees and medical supplies, including oxygen. I assure you that your entire donation will go directly to the intended purpose.

I thank you for your support.

Yours sincerely,

Lelung Tulku

Spiritual Director

Lelung Dharma Trust

WAYS TO DONATE

Or donate via bank transfer:

Lelung Dharma Trust

c/o Barclays Bank

London W12 8GG

Account number: 33298876

Sort code: 204141

IBAN: GB76 BUKB 2041 4133 2988 76

SWIFT BIC: BUKBGB22

For donations by cheque, please make it payable to “Lelung Dharma Trust”.

(Please return it to: Lelung Dharma Trust, Peace House, Parkside Way, North Harrow HA2 6BX, United Kingdom.)

Please quote ref: COVID-19/India-Appeal