Dear friend in the sangha,
As we know the situation in India is truly desperate.
This second wave of Covid-19 is spreading like fire. Even the most conservative estimates report over 230,000 people have died, and 4,000 more deaths each day. Health facilities are overwhelmed. Night curfews and local lockdowns are paralysing many states, with devastating consequences for the most poor. It is the most vulnerable and marginalised people who suffer the most; not just from Covid itself but through the lack of access to income, food and sanitation that the crisis makes worse. Nepal is also seeing a deadly wave of Covid-19 hit and this is expected to be devastating.
In March last year, Karuna UK launched a Covid-19 appeal and raised over $700k. They were able to deliver emergency relief, including 29,820 food parcels and 22,580 medical kits, to an estimated 143,000 people from marginalised communities across 6 Indian States and 3 districts of Nepal. As we write, Karuna UK are in the process of making a further round of urgently needed emergency relief to unemployed migrant workers, children out of school, women at risk of violence, and people suffering directly from virus infection. Watch this video for more about the work.
Meanwhile, we have just had approval from the Karuna UK Board to establish a new nonprofit right here – Karuna USA. Karuna USA will raise funds and support established Karuna UK projects in India and Nepal – and we aim to also support causes in the USA that align with the spirit of Dr Ambedkar’s teachings and address discrimination, exclusion and the marginalisation of the most vulnerable.
So – much sooner than we had planned – we are reaching out to seek your support for the crisis! All of the funds raised will go to emergency relief that is happening in India and Nepal.
Many of the projects that Karuna funds are run by incredible Order members and Dhamma mitras. They are a part of Karuna’s wider family of organisations who work for excluded and minority communities in India and Nepal. They all need our help now.
Please know that we will be doing everything we can to meet the increasing need in India and Nepal.
If you’d like to make a contribution to this appeal, please donate here. All funds received will be sent to India & Nepal as part of Karuna’s emergency relief.
Yours in the Dhamma,
Ananta & Samayasri
P.S. this emergency appeal is being hosted by Triratna NY 501(c)(3) charity number 51-0670801 while we do the work of establishing a new charity. All donations made will be tax deductible.