Christopher Sharma

Mgr Giambattista Diquattro visited areas devastated by the earthquake of 25 April 2015. In Nepal the monsoon rains are coming. The Jesuits have rebuilt 250 schools. Three years later, only half of the houses have been rebuilt.

Nepalis will go to the polls on 26 November and 7 December. Voters are called to renew the federal and provincial parliaments. Some 96 parties have registered. Requests for donations also come from “ different currents within the same party".

The festival of Dashain is currently underway in the Himalayan nation. The number of people trying to join the retreat outstripped capacity. For the apostolic vicar to Nepal, the Church’s service to the community is reflected in those who decide to follow Jesus as the ideal of life.

The country does not recognise their refugee status nor grant them work permits. Refugees know the country is poor, but they are dying. For Nepali minister, there is no immediate solution.

The 15-day event is the most important religious celebration in Nepal. Animal rights activists have gone to Hindu temples to raise awareness among believers. The stench of rotting dead animals fills the areas near the places of worship. Police have been deployed to prevent confrontation.

Parliament approved the legislation, which will come into effect in August 2018. Anyone caught proselytising risks up to five years in prison. Those who hurts others’ religious sentiment can be fined and get up to two years of prison. Minority religious leaders slam the new provision as a restriction on freedom of belief.

The government was not prepared for the monsoon rains. Appeal to humanitarian organizations. Caritas Nepal bringing emergency aid.

The earthquake on 25 April 2015 affected 993 monasteries, out of a total of about 5,000. The National Reconstruction Authority first pledged US$ 78 million, then reduced it to US$ 10 million.

In Surkhet district tens of thousands humiliated for caste reasons ask to be baptized. The decision was taken during a secret meeting with 200 representatives. Hindu prohibition makes their lives impossible. The fact is symptomatic of a more general phenomenon. In Nepal there is a law against discrimination, but police do not intervene and complaints are never taken into account.

Saptari is the most affected district in southern Nepal. Floods were made worse by an embankment on the Indian side of the border. Caritas hands out food, clothing and medicines. There is a danger of disease outbreaks.

Poll is now set for September. The Rastriya Janata Party has threatened violent opposition if their demands are not heeded. Other parties and ordinary citizens protest the postponement. Some fear Indian interference against the country’s secular constitution.

Fears of being left without food and salaries; of being involved in armed clashes. Some Nepalese could become exploited by terrorists.