May 1 s t – May 7 t h

G L O B A L

K A R U N A

W E E K 1

R E P O R T May 1s t – May 7 t h

S u mm ar y

Seven days have gone by since Global Karuna establ ished its base camp at Nepal Academy, Kamladi, Kathmandu.

Each day has presented its unique set of chal lenges, and we have found our camp evolving to fulf i l l the needs of

earthquake vict ims and our operations on a dai ly basis. We have shif ted the organization of our camp three t imes to

accommodate the great number of suppl ies we were able to col lect, including near ly two tons of goods from our Lumbini

Team and a dai ly incoming supply of over 1,200 l iters of water . Like most rel ief agencies, we have focused primar i ly

on the immediate needs of survivors, such as food and water . Unlike most relief agencies, we have also worked

very hard to f i l l the crit ical need for shelter by procur ing and distr ibut ing tarps . We have even gone the extra mile

to make tarps ourselves, since there is a shortage in Nepal and India. We have also distr ibuted basic medical care

packages to those in need.

During the f irst week, Global Karuna f i l led a crit ical gap in rel ief efforts by connect ing local volunteers with the suppl ies

they needed to br ing aid to their communit ies. By creating, supplying, and support ing these local relief pathways ,

Global Karuna has been able to help many families in hard to reach vi l lages, which have been ignored by large

international agencies (see our Preliminary Assessment Report for more information) . This week, the Global Karuna

base camp has been a place where anyone who is wi l l ing to help, be it an individual, a family, or an organizat ion

could come and donate or collect suppl ies to provide to Nepal’s most vulnerable people. Indeed, we are slowly bui lding

a reputable reputat ion as we supply local hospitals, orphanages, and remote communit ies with the basic needs for

survival and operat ion.

At the end of this

challenging week, Global

Karuna has identif ied a

shif t in the needs of

survivors. As more and

more relief agencies

provide basic and

immediate needs, we are

looking ahead . Our

assessment of Nepal ’s

most devastated distr ict,

Sindhupalchowk (see our

Field Report for more

information), revealed

that as food and water

resources reach remote

areas, a focus on

reconstruction is

cr it ical. Monsoon season

is quickly approaching ,

posing an imminent

threat of food insecurity and health epidemics to homeless survivors. Especial ly in remote areas, some vi l lages have

lost 80-90 percent of their homes. Therefore, t he supply of tarps and basic building materials wil l be

absolutely essent ial to these communit ies, and Global Karuna is shif t ing its supply distr ibut ion to meet these needs.

O ur S u p p l i es

F o o d & W a t e r

Global Karuna has col lected food

donat ions f rom Lumbini, Bhairahawa, and

Kathmandu. Even Terai famil ies l iving in

poverty were wil l ing to come out of their

homes and give what l i t t le they had to

help others. Many mothers, sisters, and

grandmothers gave a simple bowl of r ice

or lent i ls, or a handful of potatoes, f i l l ing

our food stuff bags little by little unt i l

we had col lected hundreds of k i los to feed

the hungry and homeless vict ims of

this earthquake. Global Karuna also

purchased food supplies f rom local

vendors in these areas, and in both

Lumbini and Kathmandu, volunteers

worked long hours to bag food supplies

into Basic Food Packages for

individual distr ibut ion to families in

affected areas . These packages included 5kg Rice , 2kg Lentils , 2kg Beaten Rice , 3 packages of Noodles , and 3

packages of Biscuits .

In our f i rst week of operat ion, we suppl ied:

12,123 L Water

5,190 kg Rice

328 kg Salt

327 kg Lentils

125k g Beaten Rice

2,232 Packages of Noodles

11,448 Packages of Biscui ts

2,669 Basic Food Packages

Me d i c a l

Global Karuna has col lected, purchased, and distr ibuted a var iety of medical supplies, including pain rel ievers,

fever reducers, vital wound care provisions such as iodine, hydrogen peroxide, antibiot ic ointment, bandages,

and gauze, diarrhea rel ief medica tions, and Oral Rehydrat ion Salts (ORS). I t has also provided important supplies for

sanitation, including gloves, masks, soap, antibacter ial wipes, water purif iers, and sanitary napkins. With the help

of local volunteers, our team created Basic Medical Packages to faci l i tate distr ibut ion to individual families.

These supplies were provided to individuals as wel l as large aid organizations to br ing medical rel ief to those in need.

Medical Supply Distribution Contents of Basic Medical Package

Organization Dispatched Location Amount Medicine

Nepal Red Cross Society

Kavre

5 packs

ORS

Ideal English Boarding School Kavre, Nuwakot 50 tablets Paracetamol

Samrriddhi Foundation Gorkha 2 packs Sanitary Napkins

Onion Films Kathmandu 10 Band-Aids

LEAD NEPAL Dhading 20 tablets Ibuprofen

Dirgayu Research and Hospital Chabahil 1 bar Soap

Asap Foundation Lakure Bhanjgyang, Manedovan 3 Gauze Pads

Karnajayanti Foundation Trisuli 1 roll Medical Tape

Lions Club of Kathmandu Dolakha 20 tablets Sinex (cough, fever)

National Trauma Center Kathmandu 5 Pairs of Gloves

Radio Nepal Dolakha 3 Masks

DAV College Godawari

Human Value for Peace & Prosperity Dharmasthali

Apex/ Presidential college Banepa, Kavre

One Bucket Campaign Ramkot, Dhading, kavre

Global Outreach Doctors Bhaktapur

H o m e & S he l t e r

In addit ion to food and

water, Global Karuna has

identif ied shelter as a

crit ical need for earthquake

survivors. In one week, we

have provided 302 tarps

and 51 solar lamps to

vi l lages in remote areas.

Due to the shortage of tarps

available in both Nepal and

India, we took the init iat ive

to begin producing tarps

ourselves . Under the

leadership of volunteer

Poonam Mishra, Global

Karuna has put together a

team of volunteer tai lors to

purchase waterproof

material and sew 10 by 10

tarps. They are now

producing an average of

50 daily.

Our D is t r ibut ion

The Nepal earthquake severely affected both urban and rural areas. While demands in Kathmandu could

quickly and easily be met, one of the greatest challenges for aid agencies has been to reach the m ost

remote and devastated areas. Many villages are simply not easily accessible by road. Through its

connections with local networks and key community figures, Global Karuna has been able to reach

many of these hard-to-reach villages, where few houses were left standing and death tolls were highest.

Out of 75 districts in Nepal, 18 were highly affected by the earthquake. Out of those 18 districts,

Global Karuna has supplied 10 of them in its first week of operation, including 92 villages.

Districts and villages reached by Global Karuna May 1st – May 7th

Kathmandu Sindhupalchowk Nuwakot Kavre Dhading Lalitpur Dolakha Ramechhap Gorkha Sindhuli

Hadigaun Badegaun Tupche Tundi Bhaldada Bhaisepati Thami Basti Tokarpur Nanga Dada Dhumya

Siphal Bhedebani

Suryamati Banepa Kerabari Lakure

Bhanjyang Bhusapheda Curagaun Tandrang

Syuchatar Lagarche Thanchin Ugratara Chainpur Luvu Namdu Tilpung

Ramkot Gyalthum Bhadrutar Jorpipal Rana Gaun Gabahal Paravali

Teku Listi Trishuli Sisakhani Khani Gaun Manikhel Lami Dada

Kirtipur Thulodhading Chaugadha Tukuche Kebalpur

Godawari Thulopokhara Raluka Palanchok Chhatre Deurali

Dharmasthali Phulping Dada Sano

Chhatre

Kunani

Pani Naubise

Sakhu Mankha Ghorsyang Katiya

Baluwatar Lagarche Chaturale Kataje

Nayabazar Chautara Kalampur

Bouddha Bhimtar

Sitapaila Jalbire

Naxal Irkhu

Manamaiju Helambu

Koteshwar Baruwa

Baneshwar Sanu Sirubani

Tahachal Kalika

Dhobidhara Bagham

Maharajgunj Kadam Baas

Chakrapath Dubachaur

Dahachok Kalika

Matatirtha Kunchok

Lapsifedi

Or g a n i z a t i o n s We S u p pl i ed

ASAP Foundation Mait idevi Yuva Samit i Par ivar

Chhetrapat i Free Cl inic Mandala Theatre

Dalit Hatemalo Jana Jagaran Vikaash Samaj Medical Mercy Canada

Dirghayu Hospital and Research Center National Trauma Center

Earthquake Vict im Relief Program Nepal Red Cross Society

Global Doctors Outreach One Bucket Campaign

Green City Hospital Parivartanka Lagi Yuva Nepal

Hamro Suruwat Peace and Loving Kindness

Human Value for Peace and Prosperity Prisoner Assistant Nepal

Ideal Engl ish Boarding High School Radio Nepal

Jyoti Lama Smrit i Prat isthan Sahayogi Yuva

Kant i Baal Hospital Social Vision Nepal

Karna Jayant i Foundation Students of Apex College

Kathmandu Animal Treatment Centre Students of DAV College

Kathmandu Guest House Students of Presidential Col lege

LEAD Internat ional TU Teaching Hospital

Lion’s Club of Kathmandu

As much as humans are vict ims of this natural dis aster, animals are also suffering. Global Karuna ’s dedication to

extending compassion to al l l iving beings has led it to col laborate and support the work of Kathmandu Animal

Treatment Center (KAT). KAT is taking care of dogs and cows who have been injured or otherwise af fected by this

disaster.

O ur T e am

The Venerable Metteya Sakkyaputta is the founder of the Lumbini Social Service

Foundation (LSSF) Metta Family, and its new relief branch,

Global Karuna . He is a beloved Buddhism teacher around the wor ld, and an

inspirat ion towards ‘compassion in act ion’ having bui lt Peace Grove Nunnery, two

primary schools (Metta Schools), and Karuna Gir ls Col lege, educat ing over 1200

impoverished rural vi l lage children. He is a Buddhist monk born in the Buddha's

birthplace: Lumbini, Nepal. Compelled into act ion by the earthquake on Apr il 25 t h ,

The Venerable Metteya called upon his volunteers and supporters to contr ibute to

this important humanitarian cause.

As a result , Global Karuna has a small but passionate and

dedicated team of volunteers . Former LSSF volunteer Rockey

Lumbini f lew in f rom Dubai as soon as he could to meet with

Chandra Pathak in Kathmandu, and they were joined by

Vanessa LaBoheme (also f rom the Lumbini Metta Family) two

days later. Over the next few days, they were joined by the

Venerable Metteya and three more local core volunteers,

Arun Subedi, Naryan Pradhan, and Poonam Mishra. Since day

one, the team has shared everything from tents and food, to

responsibi l i t ies and successes. We are conscious of each other's

needs, of ten making sure that everyone stops working long enough

to eat.

The days at Kathmandu Relief Team (KRT) base camp begin ear ly and end late, as we emerge from our tents

between 5 and 6 in the morning and only return between 10 and midnight. Sometimes there is no rest, no breaks - just

a drive to keep moving, to reach those in need. We each manage dif ferent departments, including medical suppl ies,

dispatch records and inventory, communications and outreach, tailor ing and tarp prod uction, site select ion, f inances,

and general management, but of ten collaborate to complete tasks. We also have a wonderful staff of energetic day

to day volunteers, who make it possible to produce our food packages and tarps in high volume. Our volunteers range

in age from 15 to 72(!) - proof of the incredible support we have received f rom compassionate locals. We don’t

know what we’d do without them!

C o n c l u s i o n

Despite our small size, G lobal Karuna is moving a

tremendous amount of goods. We are supplying even

the largest international and local aid organizat ions, such

as the Nepal Red Cross, Global Doctors Outreach, and

even local mil itary and police. We are the only

organizat ion supplying Trauma Hospital and Teaching

hospital in Kathmandu with the drinking water they need to

continue their operat ions on a dai ly basis .

We are becoming a recognizable and reputable

organizat ion in the region. Donors are beginning to come

to our base camp with suppl ies for further distr ibut ion, and

other organizations are approaching us with the hope of

collaborating for suppl ies and f ield missions. There is

no quest ion that our successes are due in great part to the

incredible response and support we've received f rom Kathmandu locals. The relationships we’ve built on the

ground have made it possible for us collect and distr ibute great amounts of food, water, and medical supplies to those

who need it most, directly. These connect ions in combination with our support ing partners abroad, such as the

Canadian Engaged Buddhism Associat ion, Medical Mercy Canada, and A natta World Health are what have made our

tremendous ef forts possible. Their continuous support al lows us to purchase and supply the most

critical needs for our base camp operations and the needs of earthquake survivors.