Volunteer Towards Nepal
Relief Efforts

After a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit Nepal on April 25th, rescue efforts have swung into action. Volunteers from The Art of Living and the International Association for Human Values (IAHV), are on blood donation drives ​at ​​one of the largest hospitals in Kathmandu​ ​that has been treating the hundreds of injured. Our centre in Kathmandu has been converted into a shelter camp. Over 200 people who have lost their homes, stayed there last night.

Even as The Art of Living volunteers in Nepal have lost their homes, efforts are on to galvanize relief measures to help others in need.

Updates from May 4:

• The day started with prayers, chanting and meditation at The Art of Living-Nepal Center in presence of IAHV Director, Neeraj Kohli. Then after, the dispatches and trauma relief program started right away. IAHV Director headed off to Singhadurbar to conduct the trauma relief session to the Ministry of Home Affairs staff. We were expecting the participants to be not more than 10 people. However, more than 120 people participated including the Secretary of the Ministry.
• The AIG from the police headquarter requested IAHV Director to conduct the session to Inspectors and Sub-inspectors. The AIG had participated in such a session with the Director. He then conducted the sessions for about 100 inspectors and sub-inspectors. In the afternoon, he had a session with doctors and nurse team at Kiritipur Hospital. In the evening, he also met with DG O. P. Singh, NDRS to update on Art of Living/ IAHV efforts and possibilities of further actions.
• Meanwhile, a team of volunteers left for Machhapokhri in Kathmandu to distribute water and conduct trauma relief. They covered 3 different groups in the areas and covered 190 people. Likewise, another group went to Basantapur, Kathmandu and conducted trauma relief to 4 different groups in the area.
• An Art of Living Teacher’s interview on Art of Living’s relief effort and trauma relief was aired on Mountain TV.
• Another team of volunteers left for Thankot, Kathmandu to distribute food and conduct trauma relief program. Another team headed off to Pepsi Cola, Kathmandu with food and medicines and also conducted trauma relief there.
• A volunteer went with a group of people who requested food and tent for a VDC in Sindhupalchowk District. They covered all the wards in Tekenpur VDC of the District.
• Another team of volunteers went back to Kavre District with tents and covered Saping VDC ward 1. They also had a doctor in the team who gave medical assistance as well as trauma relief session.
• Another volunteer of volunteer went to Kavre District with a team of doctors from Nepal Medical College organized health camp. The volunteers distributed food and also conducted trauma relief.
• Two truckloads of materials arrived today from Siliguri. We have been receiving small and large quantity of relief materials from internal and external donors almost every day.

Updates from May 3

• Volunteers reached Lamosanghu & Sindhupalchowk districts of Nepal. These are most affected & highest rates of casualties happened in Earthquake. Volunteers distributed tents, foods and medicines to 100 families and conducted trauma relief workshops.

Updates from May 2

• IAHV Director Neeraj Kohli conducted Trauma Relief program for AIG, DIG and 50 higher level of police officers of Nepal at the Police Headquarter.
• Volunteers distributed tents, medicines and food supplies and conducted trauma relief workshops at Sindhupalchowk, Kathmandu & Nuwakot districts of Nepal.
• A truckload arrived from Gorakhpur, India containing 41 big rolls of tent fabric. The volunteers started stitching them right away.

Updates from May 1

• Volunteers distributed relief materials & tents, conducted cleaning camp, awareness program & trauma relief workshops at Dolakha, Kavre, Nuwakot, Ramechap, Kathmandu, Dhanding Districts of Nepal.
• Conducted trauma relief workshops for more than 1000 people.

Updates from April 30

• Trauma relief sessions have begun at multiple locations in Kathmandu, and also at Civil Hospital, New Baneshwor.

Updates from April 29

• The Vadodara chapter from Gujarat contributed 500 blankets for the Nepal relief work.
• A truckload of essential items including ORS, biscuits, water, medicines, blankets and face masks was dispatched from Siliguri, West Bengal.

Updates from April 28

• Food to affected persons is being provided 24 hours. Approximately 6000-7000 people have been given meals so far.
• A blood donation camp has been started at The Art of Living Center in Raxaul, Bihar with the help of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Indo Nepal Chamber of Commerce. Upto 2 pm, around 50 people had donated blood.
• The Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal Army visited The Art of Living center in Raxaul, Bihar.
• At the Bhaktapur district, the Art of Living volunteers provided food, medical support to affected persons.
• Truckloads of food and water were dispatched from Siliguri, West Bengal on April 27.

Updates from April 26-27

• The Art of Living center has been converted into a shelter camp that is hosting people affected by the earthquake that struck Nepal.
• Volunteers of The Art of Living - Nepal distributed cooked food to residents of Tundikhel in Nepal.
• Around 300 people were taking shelter in the New Baneshwor Center of The Art of Living - Nepal.
• The Art of Living volunteers also distributed food to victims and relatives at Civil Hospital.
   

Background of the disaster:

A magnitude-7.8 quake near the capital of Kathmandu has flattened homes, buildings and temples, causing widespread damage across the region and killing more than 4,000 people.

The Art of Living & IAHV’s disaster relief work:

With its worldwide network of volunteers, The Art of Living & IAHV have been able to immediately reach the calamity-struck place anywhere in the world, providing physical and mental solace and material relief. Through this network, The Art of Living & IAHV have established themselves as one of the vital links in disaster rehabilitation programs the world over.

From extensive relief and rehabilitation work in the tsunami-affected areas to trauma relief camps in war-torn Iraq and in the aftermath of 9/11 attacks in New York to earthquake relief in Gujarat, volunteers of The Art of Living have gone beyond the concern of their own safety to tend to the mental, emotional and material needs of natural or manmade disaster victims.

The Art of Living, along with its sister organisations, International Association for Human Values and Vyakti Vikas Kendra India, has taken upon itself the responsibility of soothing any society rattled by violence and other natural disasters. Guided by Gurudev, it has developed an effective and dynamic three-stage model for responding to emergency disasters.

IMMEDIATE MATERIAL AID AND SERVICE: This entails providing emergency services and material aid in the aftermath of a calamity which includes food, clothes, medicines and shelter. Doctors, counsellors and other physical and mental health experts form an integral part of such immediate relief efforts.

NEAR-TERM TRAUMA RELIEF: For survivors of such disasters, who have experienced severe physical and emotional trauma, material help alone is not sufficient. Alleviating the trauma and helping them reclaim their lives is essential. A study on The Art of Living Trauma Relief Programs given to large groups of Southeast Asia tsunami survivors showed significant relief from post-traumatic stress disorder in four days only.

LONG-TERM REHABILITATION: True relief can only happen when disaster survivors are completely rehabilitated - physically, emotionally and socially - and have a sustainable means of earning their livelihood. To achieve this, volunteers work in villages and with local communities, building homes, sanitation systems, roads, schools, vocational training centres and other necessary infrastructure.

The Trauma Relief Programs of The Art of Living have also been instrumental in alleviating post-traumatic stress disorder. The organisation has provided long-term rehabilitation and trauma care to victims in the aftermath of almost every major disaster in the world.