“It’s 2:30 am and we’ve had a busy day here,” writes Chabad-Lubavitch co-emissary Chani Lifshitz together with her husband, Rabbi Chezki Lifshitz from the Kathmandu Chabad House. “After two aftershocks here in the past few hours people are trying to get some sleep in the hope the rest of the night will pass quietly.
“In the morning, God willing, we plan to go out to the villages where Israelis definitely are located, according to the information we have.
“An updated list of the Israelis with whom we have made contact will be posted here at the Chabad House during the morning hours Tuesday. We want to thank all of our dear supporters from near and far; we feel it and deeply appreciate it!!”
The number of Israeli missing has now dropped to 50 who have yet to be tracked down or check in with family and friends, Israel’s foreign ministry has told media.
Chabad has been serving hot meals to all arrivals every hour on the hour. Electricity, phone service and water has been cut off, according to Chani Lifshitz. “Little by little, our staples are [also] running out,” she told Chabad.org. There is an urgent need for donations and supplies.
“Every effort by each and every one of you to help in any way will be greatly appreciated, whether it be materially or spiritually.”
Five of the eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites crumbled to the ground in Nepal after the worst earthquake to hit the region in 80 years struck the country. The government has issued an urgent appeal for body bags, tents and water as the death toll tops 4,000 locally and nearly 100 in neighboring countries.
There is a desperate need for more helicopters for rescue operations in rural areas, a home ministry spokesperson told AFP.
One Israeli aircraft has already landed in Nepal with 200 IDF Home Front Command officers, medical and rescue personnel. Four more are expected to arrive within the coming hours.
At least 7,935 people more are known to be injured in the wake of two earthquakes that struck the region on Saturday and Sunday. The first registered 7.8 on the Richter scale, the second – an aftershock – was nearly as strong, a 6.7-magnitude temblor. There have been more than 100 aftershocks since.
Hospitals in Kathmandu are overflowing with patients, and rescue teams are bringing in more from the remote areas where they are reaching other inured.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry pledged $10 million in relief to help the victims on behalf of the American government. Kerry said he was “shocked” by the “gut-wrenching” images of death and destruction. The United Nations has allocated $15 million in aid.