【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2015 年 4 月 27 日尼泊爾加德滿都訊】 ─ 尼泊爾於上星期六，4月25日，遭受持續的地震蹂躪，中部地區受到嚴重破壞。地震最強達7.9級。地震造成的傷亡數字，不禁令人悲痛：超過3,700人證實死亡，重傷人數至少高達6,800，然而還有很多村落，是救援隊伍尚未抵達的。國內的慈幼會士母佑會修女，幸而未有傷亡，並投身緊急救援工作。

地震亦觸發了喜瑪拉雅山峰的雪崩，部份登山探險活動受影響。首都加德滿都，為受災最嚴重的城市，然而地震的破壞力，遍及國內70個地區中的30個。除了傷亡數字隨時間上升外，地震亦使很多人無家可歸。他們現正面對即將降雨的惡劣天氣。尼泊爾有多達2700萬人口，其中半數為兒童，人口密度極高，國家處於貧窮狀態。

在來自不同國家的人道救援隊伍的協助下，救災工作持續不斷。

母佑會加爾各答會省，已成功聯絡在尼泊爾的修女。她們已確認所有修女及慈幼會士安全無恙，只是受驚而已。有些牆壁倒塌了，但未至於不能復修。正如其他人民一樣，在政府的命令下，不能回家，只能在戶外帳篷棲身。他們現正嘗試為遭受痛苦考驗的人們，帶來援助與慰藉。

慈幼會士在尼泊爾的工作，始於90年代。他們屬於印度加爾各答會省，在加德滿都Lubhu市郊Thecho及Siddhipur，開展了兩項事業，另有兩項事業在國內其他地區。母佑會於2007年亦在加德滿都開設了會院。

目前，非政府組織奧地利Jugend Eine Welt ，已展開救援工作，並籌得首筆10,000歐羅的緊急款項，以協助在當地的慈幼會士。

YouTube 載有一段影片，展示了慈幼會士在 Lubhu 的工作。

相關聯結：支援慈幼會在尼泊爾救災

Earthquake: Salesians and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians already on the scene

 (ANS - Nepal –Kathmandu, 27 April 2015 ) – The long series of shocks that hit Nepal on Saturday last, 25 April, has devastated the central part of the country. The strongest tremor measured 7.9. It has left behind a tragic toll: about 3,700 have been confirmed dead so far and at least 6,800 wounded, but there are many villages where the relief forces have still to reach. Salesians and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in the country are unharmed and are committed to work together in addressing the emergency.

The aftershocks have also caused avalanches on the peaks of the Himalayas, which have affected several mountaineering expeditions. Kathmandu, the capital, is the city most affected, but the damage has affected 30 of the 70 districts that comprise the country. Apart from the dead and injured whose number increases by the hour, the earthquake has left whole families homeless.  They now face very harsh weather with rain imminent. Nepal is densely populated with 27 million people - half of them Children - and the country is very poor.

Rescue and relief operations are ongoing and continue unabated, with the help of humanitarian expeditions from various countries.

The FMA of the Province of Calcutta have managed to get in contact with the Sisters in Nepal. They have ensured them that the Sisters and the Salesians are all fine although affected by shock and fear. Some walls collapsed but they have not suffered irreparable damage. Like the rest of the people, by order of the government, they cannot return home and have to shelter in tents outside. Meanwhile, they try to bring aid and comfort to the people so sorely tested.

The Salesians have been in Nepal since the 1990s.  They belong to the Province of India-Calcutta, and have two works in Kathmandu, "Thecho" and "Siddhipur", in the suburb of Lubhu, and two more in other areas of the country. The FMA opened a house in Kathmandu in 2007.

Meanwhile, the NGO "Jugend Eine Welt - Austria" is already working and has allocated an initial emergency fund of 10,000 Euros to help the Salesians in the country.

There is a video on YouTube showing the Salesian work in Lubhu.