TORONTO, April 30: Around 700 Tibetans, Nepalese and Canadians participated in a vigil outside the Parkdale Collegiate Institute on Wednesday to pray for the victims of the massive earthquake that struck Nepal last week.
Tibetan and Nepalese Youth Organizations – Student for Free Tibet (SFT) Canada and Toronto Nepali Film Festival (TNFF) – raised around 800000 Nepali Rupees forwarded to the Canadian Red Cross Society.
Community leaders and representatives including representatives of the Canadian Red Cross, MPP Cheri DiNovo, and members of TNFF and SFT Canada shared their messages of support and solidarity with the people of Nepal at the gathering.
People who have not heard from relatives and family members since the earthquake also were present at the vigil. Ngawang, a Tibetan living in Toronto, has not heard from his sister since the earthquake. His sister Pema Dolker and cousin Tashi Dechen were in Lapchi in Northern Nepal at the time of the earthquake. “My sister was on a trek to Lapchi area in Nepal. Since the earthquake, I have been frantically trying to reach them, and am worried about their safety. If anyone has been able to contact the region and confirm that she is fine, please let me know,” said Ngawang who can be reached at 647-771-5125.
Neity KC of TNFF said, “Our people in Nepal are devastated right now,” 6200 people have been confirmed dead and the toll could even go higher. Thousands of Nepali people are left outside of their homes, and many of the roads are cut off by landslides, making it hard to reach remote Himalayan villages.”
“I was born in Nepal, and it is home to the second-largest exile Tibetan population, after India. Many Tibetans like me grew up there, and continuously travel there for pilgrimages and to meet families,” Said Urgyen Badheytsang, National Director of SFT Canada.
Urgyen said help is much needed by people in Nepal and nearby regions in Tibet. “Our
brothers and sisters in Nepal, and nearby regions in Tibet need our support, and we are calling on everyone to help at this critical time. Monetary donations will make the biggest impact right now. We call on everyone to please consider donating to help purchase and mobilize supplies on the ground.”
