Nepal Seattle Society, along with other local Nepali organizations, has submitted a letter of plea to WA senators to facilitate COVID-19 vaccine, medical equipment & supplies relief aid for Nepal. We, the residents of WA state, are fortunate enough to have medical resources and vaccines available to us. However, as we have come to know via media and first hand experience, the situation in Nepal is dire because of rampant rise in COVID-19 cases.
Time is of essence, money alone can’t solve the problem, and we need to mobilize local professionals and local leaders with basic equipment like oximeters, thermometer and oxygen concentrators. Local professionals like Biomedical Engineers can fix the non- functional oxygen plants and ventilators in the health care facilities. But international development partners including UN agencies who are working are not able to mobilize these local resources and are not able to procure those minor equipment and supplies on time simply because of their complex procurement policies.”
Voice of a local development professional from Nepal.
Per the World Health Organization, today, on May 11, the COVID-19 positivity rate in Nepal is 44% with reported new 9,483 cases and 250 deaths. Some heart-wrenching statistics:
- Nepal has the fastest infection rate in South Asia, faster than even India; the daily average rate of infection in the last 7 days is a staggering 30 per 100,000 people (compared to 28 in India) according to John Hopkins University
- More than 404,000 people in Nepal have tested positive, overwhelming the hospitals and health service system that are turning away critical patients
- Severe shortage of oxygen supply, resulting in increasing daily deaths
- 600 ventilators for the entire country, and the UW’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation predicts that Nepal will need over 10,000 ventilators by May 24
- Less than 2,000 ICU beds for the entire country with a scarcity of beds for patients
- Only about 1% of the country has received vaccines against COVID-19 thus far
Hence, we collectively request our representatives to do their best to provide urgent aid to Nepal. The letter sent to our representatives can be found below:
Nepal-Seattle-Society-Letter-to-Sen.Murray_05.11.2021The letters were sent to a total of 12 U.S. Congressmen, Congresswomen and Senators from Washington State
| U.S. SENATE | LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT | CITIES, TOWNS WHERE NEPALI CONSTITUENTS LIVE | |
The Honorable Maria Cantwell U.S. Senate 915 Second Avenue Suite 3206 Seattle, WA 98174 | Maria Cantwell | Entire WA | Entire WA |
The Honorable Patty Murray U.S. Senate 2988 Jackson Federal Building 915 2nd Avenue Seattle, Washington 98174 | Patty Murray | Entire WA | Entire WA |
| U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES | LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT | CITIES, TOWNS WHERE NEPALI CONSTITUENTS LIVE | |
| The Honorable Suzan K. DelBene U.S. House of Representatives Washington State District 1 450 Central Way Suite 3100 Kirkland, WA 98033 | Suzan K. DelBene | 1st District | Kirkland, Bothell, Redmond |
| The Honorable Rick Larsen U.S. House of Representatives Washington State District 2 Wall Street Building 2930 Wetmore Avenue, Suite 9F Everett, WA 98201 | Rick Larsen | 2nd District | Lynnwood, Edmonds, Marysville, Everett |
| The Honorable Jaime Herrera Beutler U.S. House of Representatives Washington State District 3 750 Anderson Street Suite B Vancouver, WA 998861 | Jaime Herrera Beutler | 3rd District | Vancouver |
| The Honorable Dan Newhouse U.S. House of Representatives Washington State District 4 402 E. Yakima Ave Suite 445 Yakima, WA 98901 | Dan Newhouse | 4th District | Yakima, Moses Lake |
| The Honorable Cathy McMorris Rodgers U.S. House of Representatives Washington State District 5 10 North Post Street Suite 625 Spokane, WA 99201 | Cathy McMorris Rodgers | 5th District | Spokane |
| The Honorable Derek Kilmer U.S. House of Representatives Washington State District 6 345 6th St Suite 500 Bremerton, WA 98337 | Derek Kilmer | 6th District | Bremerton |
| The Honorable Pramila Jayapal U.S. House of Representatives Washington State District 7 1904 3rd Ave Suite 510 Seattle, WA 98101 | Pramila Jayapal | 7th District | Seattle, Burien, Tukwila, Shoreline |
| The Honorable Kim Schrier U.S. House of Representatives Washington State District 8 1445 NW Mall St. Suite 4 Issaquah, WA 98027 | Kim Schrier | 8th District | Issaquah, Auburn, Ellensburg, Leavenworth, Bonney Lake |
| The Honorable Adam Smith U.S. House of Representatives Washington State District 9 101 Evergreen Building 15 South Grady Way Renton, WA 98057 | Adam Smith | 9th District | Kent, Seattle, Bellevue, Renton, SeaTac, Federal Way, Tacoma |
| The Honorable Marilyn Strickland U.S. House of Representatives Washington State District 10 Lacey City Hall – 3rd Floor 420 College St. SE Suite 3000 Lacey, WA 98503 | Marilyn Strickland | 10th District | Puyallup, Tacoma, Olympia, Lakewood, Lacey |