The severity of the pandemic in Nepal has aroused the concerns of the Nepalese community in Hong Kong, whose members have not only taken action, but also expressed hope that Hong Kong society can provide urgent help in this hour of need.
Nepal is in dire need of aid as the pandemic situation there worsened, with widespread infections and a large number of deaths, while medical facilities are running out of supplies, said Nigel Collett, an ex-British army officer and businessman who is managing director of Gurkha International (Hong Kong) Ltd, which finds employment for Nepalese in the international maritime industry.
Nepal’s hospitals are facing an acute shortage of oxygen for COVID-19 patients as the country recently witnessed a record numbers of infections and deaths caused by the pandemic
“We urgently need to help Nepal fight the virus. The pandemic has hit that small country in a catastrophic way,” he said, noting news reports that the Nepalese army has been burying bodies on a river bank by the Indian border.
Nepal’s hospitals are facing an acute shortage of oxygen for COVID-19 patients as the country recently witnessed a record numbers of infections and deaths caused by the pandemic. Monday saw 7,316 new cases and 145 deaths, pushing Nepal’s tally of confirmed cases to 455,020, and its death toll to 5,001, according to the country’s Ministry of Health and Population.
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Collett, author of the book A Death in Hong Kong and a resident of Hong Kong for nearly 30 years, said the situation will devastate an already weak economy and cause great suffering.
It may also affect the 30,000 Nepalis in Hong Kong who have family or friends back in Nepal. Hong Kong currently prohibits all passenger flights from Nepal and three other countries from landing in the city.
Suraj Gurung, 42, and a Nepalese resident who has lived in Hong Kong since 2006, said he was concerned about the pandemic situation back in his country.
“As Nepalese in Hong Kong, we all have families and relatives in Nepal and they all are suffering from this pandemic, so we are emotionally and mentally affected,” he said.
The gravity of the situation in Nepal and the risks linked to it led to calls for an urgent and active response from both the Nepalese community and Hong Kong society. The Non-Resident Nepali Association Hong Kong has already taken the lead by holding a press meet on Thursday to raise funds to send oxygen concentrators to Nepal.
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“Our aim is to send 100 concentrators in total by Sunday, and we have so far raised funds for 30 pieces,” said Radhika Gurung, association president. “Each concentrator costs about HK$6,500 (US$840).”
Radhika Gurung said that she believes that while the Nepalese government is doing everything it can, Nepal does not have enough medical facilities to deal with the virus surge. Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli recently urged Nepalese people living abroad to help in the fight against COVID-19 in the country.
“We are also trying to directly get in touch with the Hong Kong government via the Consulate General of Nepal to request immediate help,” Radhika Gurung said, adding that officials were considering getting in touch with the Home Affairs Department for assistance.
Collett agreed that it is high time for Hong Kong and the mainland to aid the people of Nepal, as both oxygen and oxygen cylinders for COVID-19 patients are in short supply in Nepal, and it has no access to vaccines after India stopped sending vaccines to the country. So apart from cash donations, Nepal also needs medical help and medical supplies, and vaccines. The Chinese societies in Hong Kong have also been helping India battle the virus.
“This is not just a humanitarian issue affecting a country (Nepal) to which many of Hong Kong's citizens are tied. It is one of self-interest,” Collett said.
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“When travel opens up again with Nepal, as it must, for the Nepalese here will need to travel there and back at some point, Hong Kong will open itself up to a virus that in Nepal is unchecked,” he added.
Nepal received two batches of China-donated oxygen cylinders last week. According to Nepal's Ministry of Finance, there is an agreement with China for the delivery of oxygen cylinders on a grant basis. Nepali officials said cylinders donated by China will help in easing the crisis.
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Aaron Limbu contributed to the story.
Contact the writer at vivienxu@chinadailyapac.com