Nepal Earthquake - Our help is needed

Bodhanath Stupa  in happier days

Ringu Tulku Rinpoche has longstanding connections with Nepal, some of his family live there, and they have generously provided a place of refuge for many of Rinpoche's students visiting Nepal on pilgrimage, holiday or retreat,  he says that no lives were lost in the family and none  are hurt - news we are really thankful to receive.  Some of you may remember the incredible meal for 50 weary travellers that was offered by his aunt,  mother, uncle, brothers, and sisters in the family house at the end of our pilgrimage with them in 2007, after long days on the road together with the whole family who were on a private journey visiting all the sacred sites in honour of  Rinpoche's  recently deceased father. Their generosity was extraordinary.
Many many of Rinpoche's friends, students,  teachers and colleagues are living in Nepal.  Rinpoche's family's home is close to the Bodhanath Stupa, his brother, R. D. Salga has a thanka painting studio there, Salga's work is unique and very precious, his training was at Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim, beginning at  a very young age, and he is recognised as a master of his craft and has exquisitely decorated many shrinerooms and gompas in Nepal and Sikkim, including BMC.
The Bodhanath stupa was also damaged in the earthquake, as well as the Sechen Monastery nearby, and because aftershocks may cause buildings that remain standing to collapse, people must live and sleep outside,  it has rained heavily, and the overnight temperature is not yet warm.  The Nepalese infrastructure, which was already hopelessly inadequate is not supporting the current needs, many roads outside Kathmandu are impassible, and so many of the outlying hilly areas closer to the epicentre of the quake are unreachable. As hill villages are located by helicopter they are found to be flattened, and countless more lives are known to be lost. Foodstocks are in short supply, water is running out, there is no electricity and the monsoon is coming, landslides expected, disease will spread quickly.

There are several organisations working to help who are already based in Nepal and connected to monasteries and Tibetan communities,  many of which have also suffered massive damage. These organisations generally do not have massive overheads, and ensure that any money donated will go direct to where it is needed most. So if you would like to make a difference, donating money direct is the best way, but make sure you do the research and go through well established charities as there will be many money-making opportunists.
This well thought through article by Clare Bennett in the UK Guardian is worth reading.
Check out the following links for Buddhist organisations within Nepal who are working to help and accepting donations.

http://karuna-shechen.org/news/help-earthquake-victims-in-nepal/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kagyu-Monlam-Office/303948426320560
http://www.shedrub.org/news
https://www.facebook.com/ROKPA.org?fref=ts
http://www.lionsroar.com/how-you-can-help-nepal-after-the-earthquake/
http://www.karmapausa.com/#!kss-nepal/c1lgw

Irish Connections:
http://www.thejournal.ie/irish-nepal-earthquake-2069567-Apr2015/?utm_source=facebook_short
http://www.bothar.ie/
http://www.idonate.ie/1917_nepal-ireland-society.html

If you can recommend further authentic contacts that would be useful please get in touch and we'll post here.
Thank you

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