Some of our Nepalese friends wrote:«The situation is really bad. I myself am alive, but we have lived without a roof above our heads for days and nights. Many have died and others are dying, and many are wounded. Besides the rising number of victims according to the UNICEF estimates, 940 thousand children are at risk, and urgently need healthcare. The Focolare Movement joins the prayers for the people struck, their families, in their requests for consolation in this immense tragedy, and is making the move to gather funds. From Mumbai, where the youth of the Focolare have gathered to prepare for the United World Week – and among which there are three from Nepal – the group has launched an appeal to the Youth for a United World worldwide, to start up a support action for all the people struck by the calamity: «The United World Week – they wrote – may be an immediate occasion to concretely express our support.» Pope Francis, after praying during the Angelus for the victims of the earthquake, urging all to “give their fraternal support,” expressed in a message sent to the Apostolic Nunzio in Nepal, his own personal prayer and support for the Nepalese population. Caritas Nepal, in the meantime, has started up an action plan to face the emergency, but it needs a lot of backup. Tents and food are being distributed: the main problem at the moment is to offer a refuge, to protect the people from the cold and the rain.

Funds can be deposited directly in the Youth for a United World special bank account: SAVINGS ACCOUNT OF THE CENTRAL SECRETARIAT OF THE YOUTH FOR A UNITED WORLD (GMU) Description: EMERGENCY NEPAL ACCOUNT NAME:  PIA ASSOCIAZIONE MASCHILE OPERA DI MARIA Via Frascati 306, Rocca di Papa, 00040 Rome, Italy BANK NAME: BANCA PROSSIMA Piazza Paolo Ferrari 10 20121 Milan Italy IBAN CODE FOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS: IBAN    IT62 W033 5901 6001 0000 0113 348 BIC       BCITITMX