The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) is making an urgent appeal to Baptists around the world to make meaningful contributions to emergency disaster relief in Nepal.
As of April 27, at least 3,617 people are now known to have died in a massive earthquake that hit Nepal on April 25. More than 6,500 people have been injured. These numbers are expected to rise.
Jirman Rai, general secretary of the Nepal Baptist Church Council (NBCC), said many areas in the country have been severely affected. “Gorkha, Lunjung, Tanahun, Kapre, Sindhupalchowak, Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts are badly hit,” Rai told the BWA.
The disaster in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, was especially severe. “Many houses, temples and one old tower of Kathmandu were broken totally by the earthquake.”
Rai reported that there were a number of aftershocks. “While writing this email another earthquake has struck,” he said. “I think this earthquake (aftershock) may bring more disaster to Nepal.”
He said that travel and communication in the country is difficult as roads and communication systems were badly damaged.
NBCC, a BWA member organization and main partner in the disaster response, is one of the fastest growing Christian groups in the predominantly Hindu country, with approximately 20,000 members in more than 150 churches.
Baptist World Aid, the relief and development arm of the BWA, is coordinating the global Baptist response for Nepal.
Donations may be made online at www.bwanet.org/give or sent to:
Baptist World Aid
Co/Baptist World Alliance
405 North Washington Street
Falls Church, VA 22046
USA
Baptist World Alliance®
© April 27, 2015