Kathmandu: Advisor of Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) International Coordination Council Kul Acharya has handed over an appeal to Member, House of Commons Virendra Sharma seeking assistance for Nepal as the country faces deadly second Covid-19 wave. Sharma is also chairperson of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Nepal.
Acharya in the appeal has requested MP Sharma to discuss this issue within the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Nepal on a priority basis and convey the message of Nepal and Nepali people to the British government.
Nepal is going through a tough situation right now. The Covid-19 patients are losing their lives due to lack of life saving medicines and lack of the availability of oxygen. The urgent help and assistance in this matter from the government and people of Britain would be greatly appreciated by the Nepali people and Nepali diaspora abroad including Nepali and Gurkha community living in the UK, reads the appeal.
Full text of the appeal
Rt Hon’ble Virendra Sharma
Member, House of Commons, and
Chair, APPG on Nepal
London SW1A 0AA
15 May 2021
Dear Mr Sharma,
I am taking this opportunity to draw your kind attention towards the fact that Covid-19 cases have been rising unprecedentedly in India and due to the open border between Nepal and India, there have been deadly spill over effect within the Nepali territory.
The national tally of the COVID infections has crossed over 430,000 with the daily fatality of over 200—a huge number in a country of 30 million people.
The Nepal government has banned all international flights as a precaution except with the ‘Indian bubble.’ Due to the concerns regarding the Indian variant, the UK Government has placed both India & Nepal in its ‘Red List.’
While both India and Nepal are facing acute health crisis, the British Government has already sent vital medical equipment, medicines and vaccines to the government of India. Nepal, being in a vulnerable position, has been calling upon the international community for urgent emergency medical help and support.
Since Nepal and the United Kingdom enjoy more than 200 years of trusted friendship further cemented by brave Gurkhas still serving the Crown, there is a special place for Britain among the hearts of Nepalese, which you have witnessed during your visits to Nepal.
Nepal is going through a tough situation right now. The Covid-19 patients are losing their lives due to lack of life saving medicines and lack of the availability of oxygen. There are acute shortage of hospital beds, testing kits and ventilator. Millions of Nepalese are still waiting for their first dose of anti-Covid vaccine.
May I kindly request you to discuss this issue within the All Party Parliamentary Group on Nepal on a priority basis and convey the message of Nepal and Nepali people to the British government. A friend in need is a friend indeed. The urgent help and assistance in this matter from the government and people of Britain would be greatly appreciated by the Nepali people and Nepali diaspora abroad including Nepali and Gurkha community living in the UK.
Yours sincerely,
Kul Acharya
Advisor
Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) International Coordination Council
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