Diocese of Kathmandu Provides Relief Supplies to Pandemic-hit Rohingya Refugees

Believers Eastern Church Diocese of Kathmandu reached out to Rohingya refugees, one of the most persecuted minorities in the world, with relief supplies on 8 July 2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made life even more harder for some 400+ Rohingya refugees living in a relief camp located at Kapan area in Kathmandu District, Nepal. They are believed to have fled Myanmar in order to escape persecution by the Myanmar’s military. They came via eastern Nepal by crossing Bangladesh and India. Some of these Rohingyas were working as laborers in construction sectors and others would beg on the streets of Kathmandu city to make ends meet. But, the Coronavirus pandemic hit them hard, leaving them without jobs and wages and on the brink of starvation.

Realizing their woes, a team from Diocese of Kathmandu visited the refugee camp and distributed ration kits to 171 struggling families. The package of ration kits consisted of 12 kg rice, 1 liter oil, 1 kg salt, and 1 kilogram lentils. The beneficiaries were happy and thankful to the church for the relief supplies.

Jafar Ali, one of the refugees, said, “The pandemic has pushed us further into poverty and starvation. We do not have money to buy rations and give rent to the landowners. Some organizations came here and helped us with rations. That’s how we are surviving. We are so thankful to the Diocese of Kathmandu for coming here and helping us with ration kits.”

Salim Maulana said, “We have to face misery wherever we go. While in Myanmar, the government caused us grief. After coming to Nepal, we had felt peace in our hearts for a while, but again Coronavirus upended our lives. I am so happy that you came here, bringing respite and relief to us. Thank you so much for helping us with basic needs.”