Kathmandu: The second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has battered Nepal hard. The alarming increase in cases has overwhelmed hospitals, collapsing the country’s already dilapidated health system. Hospitals in Nepal are in an extreme shortfall of beds, essential medicines, and health equipment. Crematorium in the Capital city is overwhelmed with dead bodies, forcing cremation in makeshift funeral pyres.
Failing to tackle the pandemic, the government of Nepal has appealed to the international community. But, only a few countries have responded. The Non-Resident Nepalese Association (NRNA) has come forward to rescue Nepal at the time of this crisis. Among the various initiatives of the NRNA, an RA flight with 560 Oxygen Cylinders from Oman has landed in Kathmandu on 15 May. Further, the NRNA has been working to send oxygen concentrators to Nepal.
In what looks like another meaningful effort, Advisor to Non-Resident Nepalese Association New Zealand (NRNA NZ) Raj Maharjan, based in Auckland, started an online petition. Maharjan has requested the Prime Minister and MPs of the New Zealand Parliament for humanitarian assistance to aid Nepal in facing the potential crisis that is developing fast.
“We are trying to help Nepal and Nepalis in times of need, but we are facing various obstacles. We want to send equipment such as oxygen concentrators, but we are struggling to source an adequate volume of equipment and mode of sending them to Nepal,” said Maharjan.
Maharjan, in a conversation with Nepal Live Today, said that he was cautiously optimistic about the signatures his petition has been receiving. “I have firmly yet politely requested the New Zealand government to help us in some way. I am saying so as I have seen how New Zealand managed to get Covid-19 under control,” said Maharjan.
Maharjan said that he has been working with the Nepali community and humanitarian agencies in New Zealand and globally to send aid to Nepal. One such initiative is the “Save Nepal from Covid-19 global alliance”, in which he is teaming up with Paras Khadka, the former captain of the Nepal cricket team. “It is frustrating, and I feel helpless for not being able to do much. In the meantime, I have hope that the ongoing initiatives might be able to save lives”, he said.
“We are trying to help Nepal and Nepalis in times of need, but we are facing various obstacles. We want to send equipment such as oxygen concentrators, but we are struggling to source an adequate volume of equipment and mode of sending them to Nepal,” said Maharjan.
“Help us help ourselves. International communities that have resources and expertise can enable our government and people to deal with this ongoing crisis. International organizations, including Red Cross and UNICEF, have global networks and are able to pool charitable resources to help us. I have been requesting Red Cross New Zealand and UNICEF New Zealand, but they have not responded well,” he appeals to the global community.
(Raj Maharjan is a humanist and advisor to NRNA, New Zealand. He tweets as @Raj_Maharjan_)
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