Coordinate relief progressing well

INTER-AGENCY RESPONSE GROUP RENAMED HELPING HANDS, SIKKIM

GANGTOK, 27 Sept: At a meeting held on 22 Sept in Gangtok, the umbrella organisation formed under the banner of ‘Inter Agency Response Group’ was renamed ‘Helping Hands, Sikkim’ and two members nominated from each member organisation to coordinate relief efforts, informs a press release.
The organisation is headed by Palzor Lachungpa of TAAS as president, Karma Laden Dorji as vice president, Kailash Agarwal as general secretary and Ashok Sarda as treasurer.
‘Helping Hands, Sikkim’ is working in close coordination with the State Government, State Disaster Management Cell, Local NGOs, 8th Gorkha Rifles and Sikh regiment based in Lachung, SDM Chungthang and his team, the Pipons of Lachen and Lachung, local panchayats, Forest department and the Police Dept, the release informs.
Following the earthquake that hit Sikkim on 18 Sept, most of the NGOs, business organisations and individuals began relief operations independently which led to duplication of efforts, it was therefore decided to form an umbrella organisation to provide coordinated relief, the release further informs.
The organisation, in coordination with the state authorities, STDC and Army, collected relief materials on 23 Sept and relief teams carrying essential equipment and food items were sent to affected areas the next day. A team comprising 12 experts from Sikkim Amateur Mountaineers Association, carrying food items and necessary relief materials left for Lower Lingzya on 25 Sept to provide further services in the remote villages in Dzongu.
On the same day, Kazi Sherpa and his 10-member adventure team left for Chungthang and on reaching, immediately established a communication medium in Lachung in coordination with Sikkim Forest and Sikkim Police.
On 26 Sept, a team led by Sushil Rai left to supply relief materials to Naga Camp but could not air-drop the materials due to inclement weather. Relief Materials in the form of tarpaulin sheets and blankets were also sent to West Sikkim through Y. Dorjee yesterday while a medical team comprising of Dr. RK Golwa and Wangyal Bhutia was sent to Merung and Bhusuk along with medicines and medical kits.
These are some of the works undertaken so far by the organisation in coordination with the State government, according to the release. The organisation is grateful to the Army and State Heli Services for their kind cooperation and help and also appreciates the brave efforts of the staff of Yarlam Resort led by Suresh Chettri at Lachung who have been constantly giving information on the status of the affected areas in North Sikkim since day one, the release states.
The organisation conveys this appeal:
“We welcome persons/ organisations willing to voluntarily contribute at our office below Agarwal Stores, Near State Bank of Sikkim, New Market, Gangtok, East Sikkim or contact us on phone: 9647885774/9434012104 or on email: helpinghandsikkim@gmail.com. Please take receipts for your contributions.”