<div dir="ltr">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>
<div class="gmail_quote"><div><div style="direction:ltr;font-family:Tahoma;color:#000000;font-size:10pt"><div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:13px">
<div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AMARC-Asia-Pacific/579244995449551" target="_blank"><img src="https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/v/t1.0-1/c2.0.50.50/p50x50/1014304_579341875439863_2069264997_n.jpg?oh=b054c4810b0a48f913dacd7cc9b9bf7f&oe=5598C4EF&__gda__=1436231841_66436751322fd0ea5e8df9f04bc1a505" alt=""></a>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<h5>
<div><span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AMARC-Asia-Pacific/579244995449551?fref=nf" target="_blank">AMARC
Asia-Pacific (Facebook)<br>
</a></span></div>
</h5>
<div><span><span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=940990099275037&id=579244995449551" target="_blank"><abbr title="Monday, April 27, 2015 at 1:05pm"></abbr></a></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p>Dear friends and colleagues,<br>
</p><p>Firstly, I wish to thank you all for your kind messages expressing concerns, prayers and good wishes to me personally, for my colleagues in the office and for the Nepali people in general. Some of us have not been in touch for years and yet you sent your messages.
I cannot adequately express in words how heartening it is to hear from each one of you. I am truly grateful for your words of concern and encouragement.</p>
<p><b>General update:</b><br>
</p><p>As you all know, the first quake shock was encountered on April 25, Saturday at 11:58 AM Nepal standard time. It measured 7.6 units in Magnitude. It is the biggest so far, in the last three days. According to local media, there have been at least 64 jolts measuring
above 4 in magnitude since. In fact the second biggest shock came yesterday, Sunday around 12:55 PM. It measured 6.5 in magnitude. While the first jolt itself created a massive destruction in the city core of Kathmandu valley and beyond, the aftershocks have
made rescue work a lot more challenging. Additionally, it has been raining in different parts since yesterday (Sunday).</p>
<p>I can hardly speak enough about the grave loss and tragedy faced by those that have lost family members and friends, as well as their homes and businesses. The feeling of uncertainty haunts even those that are safe so far. Rumour-mongering about impending
massive quakes has spread an atmosphere of fear all around. Those that have lost their houses are forced to stay in the streets or nearby open spaces. Even those whose houses are intact or damaged in limited ways are doing the same out of fear. State owned
radio (Radio Nepal) has been cautioning about epidemics and is asking all to wear masks when outdoors. Power cuts and limited access to Internet have made it difficult to communicate within and outside of Nepal.</p>
<p>While there is some semblance of relief activity within Kathmandu valley (which has three ancient townships of Patan, Bhaktapur and Kathmandu in it), it is an altogether a different story outside of Kathmandu. Villages after villages have been wiped out
and people are being forced to flee to nearby forests or any other place that seems safer. I hope and pray that the relief work will catch pace and gain in quality sooner than later. Tents, which are needed urgently, are in great shortage and the government
has appealed internationally for support. International support has started to arrive.</p>
<p><b>Loss to community radio stations:</b></p><p><br>
I have been in touch with colleagues from ACORAB (community radio association of Nepal) to ascertain the status of community radios. Although details are trickling in, so far we know that most radios have suffered equipment and the regular broadcasts have been
hindered or halted fully. According to Govinda Devkota, General Secretarh of ACORAB, until yesterday, all radios – commercial as well as community radios were off air around Kathmandu and in areas that have suffered from the quake – which are mainly the districts
of Gorkha, Lamjung, Tanahun, Nuwakot, Sindhupalchowk, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Ramechhap, and a some more. These are districts located in the central part of Nepal in the map. Radios are trying hard to get back on air. I have learnt from the senior
vice President of ACORAB Kishore Jung Thapa that Gorkha FM, a community radio station that he heads in the district of Gorkha has resumed broadcast since this morning out of a tent as the station building has been severely damaged. I am trying to contact,
as much as possible, other stations to find out of their status and will be posting the information in this page. So far I have not heard of any casualty among staff members of the radios but there have been massive losses of lives and properties all around
the stations in most of the above-mentioned districts.</p>
<p>I call upon my colleagues from the various community radio stations in Nepal to share their status here if they can.</p>
<p>Government of Nepal has declared a state of emergency and all educational institutions are to remain closed indefinitely. For now we have decided to keep the office closed for this week at least, as it is not convenient to reach there for most of the staff
members due to distance and exigencies in the family. However, we are trying our best to keep in touch with each other by phone and with you all by Internet.</p>
<p>We had a delegation visiting from Bhutan for a study tour of community radios. They had arrived just a day before (Friday) the quake. They left for Bhutan by an evacuation flight this morning at 6 AM. We are feel hugely relieved that they are in the safety
of their homes by now.</p>
<p><b>Immediate action by AMARC:</b><br>
AMARC is trying to assess the damage suffered by the community broadcasters and will take up concrete actions of support once a clearer picture emerges.</p>
<p>Lastly,<br>
I live in an area that is slightly away from the city core and hence the level of damage to jnfrastructure is fairly low. We are safe so far. I am in touch with Minji, Raghuji and many of our other friends and all are safe so far. Everyone is taking the best
precautions possible. I will continue my updates as and when possible.</p>
<p>With warmest regards, Suman.</p></div>
</div></div></div></div></div><div><div style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:13px"><div style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:13px"><div style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:13px"><div style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:13px">
<br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div><br></div>