(TibetanReview.net, Apr28, 2015) – Exile Tibetan leaders at Dharamshala, India, have over Apr 26-27 expressed grievance and condolences for the victims and families of the devastating 7.9-magnititude earthquake which had hit the country on Apr 25 and offered donations for rescue and relief works.
In a letter to Nepal’s Prime Minister Mr Sushil Koirala, Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, expressed great sadness over reports about the loss of many lives and widespread property damage. He noted that the people of Nepal and Tibetans had been neighbours throughout history and that many Tibetan refugees still lived in Nepal. Expressing condolences to the victims and families, he said, “As a token of solidarity with the people of Nepal, I have asked the Dalai Lama Trust to make a donation towards rescue and relief efforts.”
The Central Tibetan Administration held an emergency meeting over the tragedy and decided to hold a special prayer service on Apr 27 as well as to offer a donation of two million Indian rupees as a token contribution for rescue and relief efforts. It also instructed its overseas representatives and settlement officers to collect donations toward relief efforts in Nepal.
The Tibetan parliament in exile also issued messages of sympathy and condolences for the victims and families in Nepal as well as in Tibet and India.
There have been no reports of casualties or destruction of homes among the estimated 20,000 or so Tibetans living in the country.