Earthquake Recovery Efforts by the Church of God in Nepal

The pastoral staff of the Church of God donates 1 Million Rupees to Nepali Prime Minister Sushil Koirala for emergency relief.

On April 25, 2015, Nepal was struck by a massive 7.8-magnitude earthquake. Responding promptly, the Church of God initiated earthquake recovery and relief efforts. Local members worked tirelessly to clear rubble from buildings in affected areas, including Kathmandu, and repaired houses and roads. They also utilized helicopters to deliver groceries to remote villages where access was cut off. Furthermore, the Headquarters of the Church of God donated relief supplies worth 100 million KRW to earthquake-affected areas. Additionally, university students from Korea assisted victims in resuming their daily lives by rebuilding collapsed elementary schools.

Nepal Earthquake 2015

Buildings in Kathmandu have collapsed devastatingly in the earthquake.

Dharahara Pagoda, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has collapsed in the earthquake tragedy

Nepal Earthquake 2015
Occurrence Date	April 25, 2015 at 11:56 a.m. (local time)
First Epicenter	28.165° N. 84.725° E. (Gorkha, Gandaki, Nepal)
Magnitude	7.8 on the Richter Scale
Damage	Victims:	Casualties	Approx. 9,000
		Injuries	Approx. 16,800
		Refugees	Approx. 2.8 million
	Economic Loss	Approx. 7 billion USD
Affected Areas	Nepal, India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan

An earthquake struck near the capital, Kathmandu, and Pokhara, the second-largest city, on April 25, 2015. With a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale, it devastated 75% of the structures in Kathmandu. UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Dharahara Tower and Durbar Square were also destroyed or damaged. The earthquake triggered an avalanche on Mount Everest, cutting off traffic and isolating residents. Severe damage occurred in mountainous areas such as Nuwakot, Sindhupalchowk, Kavrepalanchok, Rasuwa, and Dolka, as well as regions near the epicenter like Gorkha, Kaski, Lamjung, and Sinduli.

The disaster claimed approximately 9,000 lives, injured around 16,800 individuals, and displaced about 2.8 million people. Property damage amounted to $7 billion USD. The UN estimated that over 8 million people, more than a quarter of Nepal's population, were affected by the earthquake.

Volunteer Services by the Church of God

Earthquake Recovery Efforts by the Church of God in Nepal
Period	Approx. 100 days from May 26, 2015
Location	Approx. 710 affected areas including Kathmandu, the capital
Number of Volunteers	Assisted approx. 15,000
Content	Damage Recovery	Debris removal, road clearing, etc.
	Relief for Victims	• Rescue of victims • Environmental cleanup in victims’ dormitories, etc.
	Relief Supplies	• Emergency relief fund of 1 million rupees (approx. 19,000 USD) • Rice, instant noodles, bottled water, lentils, salt, tent, vinyl, mat, etc. (worth about 93,000 USD) • 4,000 tents
	Mother’s School Project (School Reconstruction)	1st Reconstruction	Shree Primary School in Chautara, Sindhupalchowk
		2nd Reconstruction	Shree Bhavani Lower Secondary School, Kavrepalanchok

Recovery Efforts

Members of the Church of God in Nepal are courageously clearing rubble from collapsed buildings despite the risk of aftershocks.

Commencing on April 26, the day following the earthquake, these dedicated volunteers initiated relief operations. Despite the jolt of an unexpected disaster, they bravely mobilized to aid neighbors confronting even more profound adversity. Working without essential gear like gloves and masks, they tirelessly employed their bare hands to extract casualties trapped under debris and contribute to the city's recovery endeavors. In Dhapasi, Basundhara, and Greenland, approximately 120 members visited the makeshift shelters where victims sought refuge, and offered tents, water, and food while also clearing the cluttered surroundings.

On April 27, their efforts extended to Kathmandu and nearby villages such as Thudikhel, Putalisadak, Baluwatar, Ghairidhara, Jitpur Chogaun, and Chaumati, where they continued their relief work. These committed members diligently cleared rubble from collapsed houses, recovering clothes, valuables, and household items buried within the debris. Moreover, they undertook the daunting task of reopening blocked roads by removing mud and stones caused by landslides. Their endeavors provided much-needed relief to victims who were unable to access food from their buried homes. Gratitude lit up the faces of the victims as the Church of God members delivered 30-50 kg (66-110 lbs) rice bags to temporary shelters.

Relief for Victims

Nepalese members uniting for earthquake recovery efforts

On April 30, members of the Church of God across Nepal united their efforts to collect relief supplies, including rice, instant noodles, bottled water, tents, plastic bags, and mats. These supplies were then dispatched to the Churches of God in Kathmandu. An 8-ton truckload of supplies was distributed to the Churches of God throughout Kathmandu and provided to the victims. In areas where trucks couldn't access due to earthquake damage, members traveled for hours on motorcycles or even walked long distances to ensure aid reached severely affected areas.

Elder Tejendra Gautam, a local pastoral staff member, expressed, “Many people had to sleep on the streets, even amidst rain, fearing building collapse. Unfortunately, tents and mats were already sold out, leaving us unable to purchase them. However, members from our local churches traveled to remote mountain villages and provided essential goods to the residents.”

The Church of God Headquarters, too, extended humanitarian aid to Nepal. They generously donated 1 million rupees (approximately 10,000 USD at the exchange rate at the time) for emergency relief, along with relief goods worth of 93,000 USD such as 4,000 tents, bottled water, rice, mats, salt, and lentils. In Sertung, a mountainous village in the Himalayas where roads were severed by the earthquake, they utilized helicopters to deliver food to approximately 1,000 households on 14 occasions.

Hishila Yami, the former Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Aviation of Nepal, observed the Church and its members' activities with gratitude, stating, "I’m very thankful to the Church of God. I've heard about your volunteer work in various places around the world, and it is a great help to the people in Nepal affected by this catastrophe." He further encouraged and expressed appreciation to the members, saying, "A mother is like the earth that creates all things. Here, you’ve fulfilled the role of a mother."

The members of the Church of God in Nepal, totaling over 15,000 volunteers, committed themselves to saving lives and assisting in disaster recovery efforts across 710 locations for approximately 100 days.

Tent donation and cleanup around the refugee shelters

Providing food to mountain villages and transporting emergency patients via helicopter

Providing relief goods for the refugees

Mother's School Project

School Building Completion Ceremony for Shri Bhawani Lower Secondary School in Kavrepalanchok

The Church of God carried out the “Mother’s School” project for students who lost their school buildings in the earthquake. The church members cooperated with the Nepalese Ministry of Education, signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to rebuild earthquake-damaged schools. As a result, two collapsed school buildings in Sindhupalchowk and Kavrepalanchok, located northeast of Kathmandu, were reconstructed. Elementary and middle school students, who lost their classrooms in the two regions most severely affected by the earthquakes, endured a state of unease, fearing further collapse. They attended classes in makeshift tents or temporary classrooms constructed from bamboo and tin. Recognizing the urgency, members of the Church of God embarked on constructing sturdy new buildings and furnishing them with clean desks, chairs, blackboards, and school supplies. Their efforts aimed to encourage students to learn and grow with confidence. In November 2016, General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol visited Nepal and took part in the completion ceremony, delivering courage and hope to the children of Nepal.

No. 1: Shree Elementary School, Sindhupalchowk

Shree Primary School in Sindhupalchowk rebuilt as part of the Mother’s School Project

Construction of Shree Primary School in Chautara District, Sindhupalchowk, commenced in August 2015, just four months after the earthquake struck. Young adult members in Kathmandu, along with Korean university students who were visiting Nepal at the time, worked together to clear the rubble of buildings and lay the foundation. Subsequently, with the assistance of experts, a sturdy building comprising four classrooms was constructed. The Church of God further contributed to the school's infrastructure by installing water tanks and toilets to promote the health and hygiene of the students. Additionally, they provided desks, chairs, blackboards, and school supplies to enhance the learning environment. The following year, on March 2, 2016, the school building completion ceremony was held at Shuri Elementary School. Approximately 250 people attended the event, including members of the Church of God, teachers, and all students of Shuri Elementary School, along with the superintendent of education in Sindhupalchowk.

During the ceremony, Rudra Hari, Head of the Sindhupalchowk Community School, delivered a congratulatory remark, expressing gratitude: “In such a difficult situation, the Church of God came to this place and established the school before any other organizations. We are so happy for your support and love for the students and their parents.”

No. 2: Shri Bhawani Lower Secondary School, Kavrepalanchok

Construction of the Shri Bhawani Lower Secondary School in Kavrepalanchok began in August 2016. Upon discovering that restoration efforts had stalled for over a year, members of the Church of God promptly intervened. They diligently cleared debris and rubble from the collapsed building and took on various tasks themselves, including laying the groundwork, installing reinforcing steel, constructing walls, roofing, painting, and more. In addition, they crafted desks and chairs, installed a water tank, and meticulously constructed a fence with great care.

General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol of the Church of God attended the completion ceremony on November 28 and expressed hopes for a bright future for Nepal. The event was attended by over 300 people, including the Deputy Director of the Nepali Ministry of Education, officials from local education offices and school management committees, teachers, students, and church members from Kathmandu.

Pastor Kim Joo-cheol expressed, “We hope that this school will embody an educational institution that nurtures the future leaders of Nepal with love, much like a mother who serves as the finest teacher and mentor.” Keshari Rahman, then Deputy Director of the Nepalese Ministry of Education, expressed gratitude for the Mother’s School project, stating, “It is a commendable example of Koreans’ warm heart.”