Help Tibetans recover from floods in India

In the wake of devastating floods in Delhi in July 2023 - the biggest in a decade - over half of Delhi has flooded, with roads, schools, homes and vital services damaged or destroyed, and many areas left without electricity. To make matters worse, in many places, including the Tibetan area of Majna Ka Tilla that’s next to the Yamuna River, the flood water has been contaminated by overflowing sewage, and reports of health issues are increasing day by day.

Some 5,000 Tibetans are living in Majna Ka Tilla, with thousands more passing through from Tibetan settlements all over India. Tibetans in India have limited access to healthcare, education or work opportunities. This leaves them particularly vulnerable when disasters like floods hit and many have been left in urgent need of assistance.

Tibet Relief Fund is asking for your support to help these Tibetans address rising health issues due to the contaminated water, and to repair and rebuild our partner Empowering the Vision’s Community Hub (Sontsa), which served as a sanctuary, offering solace, guidance, and invaluable support, but has now been severely flooded (pictured). The team did their best to save what they could, but the damage has been extensive.

Sontsa provided a vital service, with over 1,160 Tibetans accessing it over the past year. This number is set to grow as more people hear about the services it provides, which cannot be found elsewhere. It was a beacon of hope, a place where individuals found not only a safe space, but also careers advice and support, information about their rights in India, and a lifeline to navigate the challenges of their lives in exile. Sontsa will be even more important now that people’s lives have been destroyed by the floods.

"The recent flood has caused extensive damage to the office, community, leaving many in dire need of assistance and support. It has halted some of our important upcoming programs, like Mission-Admission, which is lined up at the end of this month. With the onset of Delhi University admission, this month is extremely important for Tibetan students to seek support and guidance from us. With no office to formerly operate, it has deeply impacted day to day running of the office, daily drop-in at Sontsa hub, and the preparation for forthcoming programs like job readiness training, building bridge programs." - Kunsang, Director of Empowering the Vision

Tibet Relief Fund needs your help to:

With your help, we can not only replace the physical structure of Sontsa, but also revive the hope of those who rely on its invaluable services. Each donation, no matter the size, will help Tibetans repair their health, reconstruct a lifeline that provides critical services and guidance to their community, and reclaim their future.

Please give what you can today to help Tibetans recover from this disaster.