Tibet Foundation has just received distressing news that there has been a major fire in the centre of Yushu Town, Kyekudo that has burnt down many fabricated buildings.  These are mainly shops that also provide living accommodation and livelihoods for some 70 to 80 Tibetan families. There is no report of any casualties or loss of life. The cause of the fire is not yet known. 

The families who owned these shops were already victims of the devastating earthquake in April 2010. Whatever they had managed to save from the ruins of their homes at that time or have acquired in aid since then has tragically been lost once again. The local authorities are working closely with the inhabitants to establish the cause of the fire. 

Without external support these Tibetan families will be completely unable to survive or re-establish their businesses. In such a critical situation these people may lose forever what limited chance they had of building and sustaining their future.

On behalf of the families seriously affected by this fire, the Foundation is urgently launching an appeal to raise a seed fund of £1,000 for each family to enable them to survive the imminent bitterly cold winter that lies ahead and to have a chance of re-establishing their business.

It is only 18 months since these Tibetans survived the earthquake in Yushu, struggling to put their lives back together ever since. You helped them then, please do so again. Kindly donate whatever you possibly can, any sum small or large. They desperately need our help.