Tashi's Diary

The following are excerpts from Tashi's post-earthquake work diary, giving a small insight into the scale of the problems in Yushu and what is being done to overcome them.

This page will be kept updated as new information comes in.

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April 14.

The day of the earthquake

The earthquake started at 7.45am at local time. I was being on the way to visit a Jinpa project site away from Yushu at the time. My office staff called me and said that there was a strong earthquake in the Yushu town. Later I called a friend of mine. He said said hundreds and thousands of people died and were injured, and about 99% of mud houses and concrete buildings had cracked or collapsed. He said people were crying and calling for rescue. He said it was a helpless devastating and painful situation too.

I had a chance to send an email to say what I heard from my friend. Later Jinpa friend in UK called me to say she heard on the news about Yushu earth quake. We are doing ritual Tibetan traditional prayers. Every Staff members of Jinpa Project lost either their own family members or relatives including losing their household.

April 15.

I arrived at Yushu town around 2.30am in the morning. There were lot of people crying and asking for help to rescue survivors, food and shelter.

I just walked around a few blocks but I have nothing to do except weeping for the moments. I just slept on the ground at main Yushu Prefecture government compound with the Jinpa staff. We did not have much to wear but someone lent us a sleeping mat.

I had about 2 hours sleep, got up and went to visit and check different sides of towns and took some photos of the destruction, and talked to different people. Everybody was talking about those who have been killed or injured. We helped take some injured people to emergency clinics. There were lots of rescue teams and monks who were trying to rescue survivors, most of the family members were digging out from the collapsed homes and buildings who were trying to rescue survivors and to find out the dead bodies.

Many Chinese domestic NGOs had contacted us to get information at the this time; we had contacted and cooperated with Hong Kong Oxfam to assist distributions of their relief material which contains 4,000 duvets and sleeping mats.

April 17.

2 Trucks reached Yushu at the midnight of the 16th. This morning through local County contacts, Jinpa cooperated with Oxfam and distributed 4,000 duvets and sleeping-mats to two main counties of Yushu Prefecutre: Nangchen and Yushu. The distribution went on very well; staff from Oxfam were very happy and satisfied with our cooperation.

Meantime a senior official introduced Jinpa to a Korean Charity Society who have came with one truck of water and food to distribute for the most needy groups. We organized to distribute their Emergency Relief to members of Dompa Community, many of who have lost their family members as well as lost their property.

Today The Jinpa Staff also set up a temporary tent office for making and keeping contact, and networking with both givers and receivers.

April 18.

Early in the morning 2 Trucks which contains 600 tents have arrived in Yushu. Jinpa organized and arranged with Yushu county government authorities for the distribution.
Out of 600 sets of tents, 400 went to the most needy families who have lost their family members and those who have lost their properties of Yushu County. The other 200 tents will be distributed to those families who did not get any tents from any of the tent distributors as we are organizing by investigating and checking by our local volunteers.

These days we are giving out the tents and making delivery to the families or family members who can come to collect the tents.

It seems from our volunteers checking there are many needs vulnerable families, single parents need and poor elderly need good thick canvases tents and strove and basic kitchen equipment to boil water and cooking. Meanwhile we were corresponding to some of international NGOs through Jinpa Trust in Scotland, sending photos and information.

We are receiving some small funding to do out-reach relief-work with vulnerable elderly, single parents families and orphans, and doing psychological counseling for those who lost their family members.

April 21.

We are still out working with Oxfam, distributing equipment and tents to the most vulnerable families and individual people. It seems there are so many families who still need tents and other aid.

April 22.

The Prefecture government announced that we had to move out of the main government compound. The letter says we must evacuate before the next day, so we to had find a place immediately. It was a big challenge to find a place and then to move with all the belongings and equipment we had managed to save from the ruins of Yushu. I went to Yushu horse festival ground and visited many locations but it was difficult to find a good place. Finally after trying everything we found by chance a quite good place to move and camp.

The whole place is full of hundreds and thousands of blue tents and it is so dusty that it is difficult to breathe. We had to move all our belongings to the new place, the weather was quite good in the morning but later it turned very bad with strong sandy winds. It was very difficult to put up the tents because the storms kept blowing them over and all our possessions away! We managed to put up our kitchen tent, but soon it was blow away and destroyed by strong wind! We worked for the whole day to move our camp with just one borrowed vehicle.

April 23.

We went to help out with Oxfam Hong Kong’s distribution of Tents in three major townships outside Yushu Town. Ratoi, Ramid and Rongpo were three small townships west of Yushu Town, and we were shocked to see how they have been affected by the earthquake.
We were still working on the move, putting up our staff office tents and moving furniture including cooking equipments. Many people helped us to shift our furniture and equipment. I communicated with Jinpa Trust in Scotland about a proposal we have sent to The KCF to help for vulnerable elderly people and single parents those who needed much help. I had a long conversation with KCF about the project and its budgets. Also we have received many calls from Mainland Chinese NGOs and individuals who have sent small donations and second hand clothes for us to distribute.

April-24th:

We have received more aid from different organizations and small societies from the people of PRC for the earthquake victims. The aid mainly consist of clothing, ready made foods items, and some simple medication. So we started to distribute these with words of gratitude from the Jinpa Project.

Meanwhile we were approached by some volunteers from a local community organization in a nearby area un-affected by the earthquake. We welcomed them with huge gratitude. They have collected two truckloads of goods for the earthquake victims. We gathered all the respective leaders along with those volunteers. We discussed how the relief aid should be distributed to the victims. The meeting went on for about an hour and we decided things very functionally and logically. This aid should arrive tomorrow – it is very heartwarming that everyone is working to help us, even if they themselves are poor. At the same time we were working with the Local and National Government to help their distribution of tents and other relief aid.

25th April:

We started with the distribution of aid from the local community organization; they were received at the right time along with governmental officers who are taking responsibility for the distribution and arrangement with the victims. The distribution went smoothly and gently without facing any arguments. We Jinpa Project members helped them as much as we could. Meanwhile we finally moved the rest of the office materials from the main office towards our tents.

There is so much work to be done to help earthquake victims that have not had time to start thinking about the future of our Children in Crisis funded basic health and midwifery training and community health education. Educating the people, both children and adults, is so important to give them knowledge that will help them build a future. I am thinking that after things settle down here we need to find funding to build a Community Health Education Center where we can continue with education in hygiene and health which is so important.

26th April:

We spent all day moving  our  precious supplies and books  from the  store room at the collapsed Jinpa main office.  It  was only partially destroyed but very unsafe  to enter so  we worked very slowly and carefully.  In the morning   we  prioritized   what things to move. We planned to shift those things and  what furniture was still   intact  which we most needed. So we headed towards the collapsed office very nervous that  there would  be no further collapse and anyone hurt. We  dragged out all the important materials for our programs. In about two hours we were back to our camp and organised things in our tent.  In  the mean time I  received a number of calls; most of them regarding the contributions and Relief Aid for the victims. It was a very busy day and all of Jinpa Members—staff and volunteers—worked tirelessly.

27th April:

Today we have received a truckload  of second hand clothes and some medical aid from the mainland China donors. We welcomed them warmly and with thanks for the  generosity. We sat down  with the  donors and discussed for about  an hour regarding the current problems facing  distribution teams and  the victims.  We decided  which relief to distribute first and  to which groups of victims. They were very genuine and open  with their heartfelt  support and help. At the same time we discussed plans for upcoming activities   for the victims. They were very much impressed by our (Jinpa Project) selfless dedication and sincere work for the needy people. We  shared our mutual views and thoughts. We  stressed that  the goals of the Jinpa Project are  helping the  people.  We took down detailed information  and contact details  of the contributor/donors of  the relief materials.  On completion of the discussions and work we bid farewell with whole hearted thanks.

Due to increasing number of residents day by day at the camp  which has only  limited space, we are losing our area. So we  spent quite long time trying to occupy some extra space for the purpose of up coming project and activities. The best and most suitable way to occupy the space is to set up a fence  to surround  one’s area. However the plans were not finished due to much more  urgent work which interrupted  us midway. Despite having lots of things to be done, we also set up some extra tents as a storehouse for relief aid materials. Setting up a tent is not every ones cup of tea especially in the middle of rainstorms and strong winds which blow hard  like a cyclone.  It was a great struggle. At the end of the day, we have also a guest from the mainland who has come here to support the victims.

28th April:

Ratuk and Ramey townships got two trucks of relief aid. We gathered all the receivers  together with the donors to  discuss and plan  the distribution of  the relief supplies. Also received some relief aid from the mainland of PRC for the victims.

29th April:

Today we were reached by some delegations and volunteers from the China Poverty Liberation Society. We warmly welcomed them and arranged a space for the meeting. We had a wonderful conversations before the actual meeting began, introducing   ourselves  discussing  both our  project's aims and objectives. Following this we started our meeting. The discussions  were widespread and went on for about two and half hours. We discussed about the  problems of poverty  in Qinghai  Province and other regions  on the Tibetan High Plateau. At the same time we underlined the need of instant relief aid for the Yushu victims. We also talked about our current missions and future plans. They expressed their deep concerns and willingness to learn about the actual problems so as to get a perspective  on how  poverty can be alleviated. They were impressed  by how much The Jinpa Project has done and moved by our sincere and selfless work for the people who are in  such great need of support. We discussed  what are the genuine problems and hard ships which normally face the local and national people such as Health and Hygienic Problems, Education and Moral Values, Protection of Environment and Endangered  Wildlife,  the overall well being of society and so on. We shared our mutual thoughts and views with each other. The meeting was followed by farewell tea with notes of gratitude for their benevolence.

One vehicle carrying our relief aid from the mainland   reached us and we received them  keeping track of  all the details like sender's name and address. It took about one and half hours to store them in the warehouse with separating accordingly to donor.  I sent to all the senders with words of sincere gratitude and thanked them for their unconditional support and help for the victims. It was becoming dawn when  some volunteers reached us and assured us that they would work for us so  we let them to stay with us for some days.  The day has gone like a wave and I didn't even realize how I have spent my time by meetings, discussions and works. The daylight  fell smoothly and calmly but my entire body became restless and aching everywhere due to  being overloaded  with  work but  with restless mind functions.

30th April:

Today is the last day and last week of this nightmare mont. The day  began pretty normally and it was quite sunny for few hours. We were busy with our usual works by  sorting  the  relief aid and putting them  in marked distinct areas. Again some relief aid reached us  which contains secondhand clothes and first aid  things. We separated and stored them  in the usual way taking note of exactly what  was in the aid and given by whom.. Most of them were contributed from the mainland of People's Republic of China.  In order to store up all the expected  up coming relief aid, we set up an extra tent in the dawn early morning light. It went   the tents  quite smoothly as there were no more strong storms which normally blows away.

19th May:

Another Jinpa  truck  arrived  today so Jinpa staff unload and   count  items to know what we have.    We   send word out to  those most vulnerable people that  we bought aid supplies for  them and distribute the goods that arrived. When word goes out    people come  quickly so  we able to distribute  in just a few hours. We have to clean up   after all the distribution so go to bed very late and very tired.  At least  over 200 more people  have been helped today.

20th May:

Today we don't have much work but staff met and talked to people who came by. People need someone to share their thoughts with. Many people came to the camp to ask for tents, stove and cooking utensils, some ask second-hand clothes to be delivered to them. It is difficult as there is only a little aid coming in from our donations but it is difficult to make a proper audit of what is still needed and who is top of list. Jinpa will continue to buy and deliver aid as long as funding carries on.

21st May:

Terrible day. Mr Tsering Sonrup, a very important person who worked for more than 8 years for Jinpa as a volunteer died in Xining from liver disease. He was studying in Beijing when took ill but cost of treatment too expensive there so he came back to Xining where not many doctors know what to do. As not exactly clear what happened to him it shows again the problem of not having a national health service. All Jinpa staff are grieving deeply and visited his father to offer our condolences.
The situation here is still miserable and quite horrible but most of people are busy going to collect caterpillar fungus and trying to resettle their surviving families at Yushu Horse Festival Grounds. The grounds are dotted with thousands upon thousands of tents . There is constant dog barking which is very annoying. Earthquake victims/patients who were sent to Xining for treatment have now all been sent back to Yushu although most are still severely injured and in a bad state. This is difficult for the people here.

22nd May:

This morning Mr Shog Jiga, Yushu Director of Foreign Affairs and Mr Ying Chen visited our camp to meet Director. They expressed their appreciation of Jinpa's work. We discussed many other topics to do with the earthquake, relief aid, and possibilities about the future. People have heard that Jinpa hands out relief supplies so every day people continue to come to the Jinpa camp to ask for tents and other things. Jinpa does not have supplies of the blue Government emergency tents but we gave them second-hand clothes and other hygiene items, particularly those for women. Jinpa has to be careful and co-ordinate its aid distribution with the authorities so that some people don’t get more than their share and some get nothing. The people are already worrying about what they will do in winter when they have no house to live in. Jinpa’s priorities are aid to vulnerable people which includes children and old people.

23nd May:

Jinpa is preparing a few proposals to send to those domestic NGOs who are interested in our programs and work. They learned what Jinpa did, were very interested and have kept in contact with us. Although Jinpa will continue to focus on its long term work on health and hygiene education and midwife training programs, we currently are focusing on relief aid to the earthquake victims / survivors but after caterpillar fungus collection season is over, Jinpa will continue with its health projects. Survivors are still tense and worry about their future. They talk constantly about what government will do for them, build new house? Arrange furnishing? According to some reports, Yushu earthquake area is now normal! but in reality there is not much progress. The bulldozers have been in to clear away all the rubble which once was Yushu. It suddenly was just a big flat open space. Then they are already starting on the re-construction of Jeiku (Yushu) town. However, the people all believed nothing would start until many discussions had taken place about the plans. The private land owners who lost their houses want guarantees that they will keep their land.

24th May:

Jinpa is learning that many families who lost family members or had family members who sustained serious injuries during 4/14 earthquake feel they have not received enough aid. They lost life, they lost property, they lost everything. Jinpa is working to support the people, to identify and list the different problems and needs. Today we distributed utensils, food and second-hand clothing to those people who live in Yushu but are not registered so do not get assistance. People cried when we talked to them and distributed a few items of aid to them. Jinpa sat them down and talked with them—about their experiences, about the importance of health and hygiene, and how things must get better so they must think on the positive side. They thanked Jinpa and smiled at us when they left. A little sympathy and a shoulder to cry on go a long way. That is something Jinpa staff can offer which does not cost too much.

25th May:

Many more people came to Jinpa as they had learned that Jinpa had distributed things yesterday but today we had only some second-hand clothing left. Survivors continue to come and request help. The re-construction of Jeiku has started. A huge labor force has arrived from mainland China and they are starting to dig for the foundations of houses. People are scared that the center of Jeiku town is to be dominated by different government offices and that family homes will be pushed to the outskirts of the city.

The word is that the re-construction of Jeiku town will take between 3 to 5 years, and that people must be stay in tents for all those years. The blue emergency tents are flimsy and will be unbearable to stay in during winter season. The people feel helpless. People are struggling to live normal lives now but everything is lacking.

26th May:

Everybody is busy praying and going to the monasteries or sacred sites, as the Tibetan tradition is that within the 49 days after a death you must pray and conduct many religion activities, so that the souls of the deceased are put to rest and stop wandering around the family. Jinpa has started to worry, to think and to plan about how to carry on with the basic health/midwifery training program. As there are no classrooms, no dormitories or furniture, new arrangements must be made for everything. Jinpa Director is busy worrying about this and making tentative plans.. However, we must get all necessary permissions before we can do anything. An afternoon meeting was held and everyone discussed restarting the planned midwife training program.

27 May:

More people came to ask for help and handouts, but all we have is a few second hand clothes.

28 May:

There was nothing new to do today, just recheck proposals and clean the surrounding environment. It is quite difficult to fetch water as the water system is not near so one must carry water on bike or jeep

30th May:

Oh dear another earthquake happened this morning . Everyone was very frightened and ran out of tents as fast as could. When it was over we find that because almost everyone is in a tent, no one was killed this time and the damage was not too great to the few buildings that were still standing.

Now there is heavy rain every day. As the tents are so basic it is hard to stay inside all day but we are helpless. There is no special work for Jinpa at present. Everybody in trying to get funding to buy more aid supplies. Jinpa is working on organizing the purchase of more supplies but it all needs to be co-ordinated or the most needy people might get lost in the confusion.

1st June:

Today is very important day, it is 49 days of earth quake, monks are everywhere to praying and preparing butter lamps. Many people were gathered at Horse Festival grounds chanting the Mantras and preparing butter lamps.

2nd June:

Today is a normal day. Everyone remains upset and unhappy. Jinpa continues with its routine, writing reports and doing accounts in Chinese. Arrangements are being made to buy more supplies and truck them down to Jeiku. Tashi Tsering, Director, is making plans to continue with Jinpa Projects, mostly in Nangchen County that were in train when the earthquake happened.

 

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