Here is the latest letter from Simmi regarding the Covid catastrophe in India
Let me see how I can explain the situation.
An apt way of describing the current situation of India as a whole is that we are in a terrifying predicament. God knows why I am safe along with everyone in my immediate family, NICM and among all of our partner Churches here in North India. It has to be your prayers along with God’s blessings upon us up till now. It’s unbelievable how people are dropping dead from this pandemic at exponential rates. The dominance of the virus in India is slowly swallowing the entire country, and little did we think that India would soon head towards becoming the leading country for coronavirus hosts.
While certain experts, social and health workers, epidemiologists and other think thanks are predicting that the surge of infectious cases is going to rise in India before it falls, no one, however, can be sure, especially with the availability and dispersion of vaccines. As of right now, there have been thousands of deaths in the last 24 hours. The state of Delhi is running out of crematorium spaces, and the government is frantically erecting last-minute pyres as a means to dispose of bodies succumbing to this persistent air-borne virus. Many states have gone into complete lockdowns while some have initiated curfews. Commencing the beginning of the virus, little we anyone expect that India would become a breeding ground for the coronavirus, but then again, given the density of our population and the general carefree attitude towards this pandemic, it’s no wonder that India is in a critical state.
The biggest problem right now is that crowds of people are still rallying and gathering for festivals, rituals and political gatherings, which is absolutely foolish, sadly speaking. Many states have slowly started enforcing Section 144 as a means of crowd control. Our state of Punjab is in complete lockdown. Haryana has gone into curfews, but there are rumors that we will also be under complete lockdown soon enough. Borders of Himachal Pradesh have been closed off with selective entries for certain travelers traversing in emergencies. Himachal State has started enforcing people crossing borders to show registration certificates of being inoculated. Through and through, it seems like India is heading for another complete lockdown.
International help is being pledged for India amidst this second wave, and our biggest concern is for oxygen supplies for patients in critical care units. Of the 200,000 deaths so far in India up till now, most people are simply unable to make it due to lack of proper care. Even more saddening is the fact the death count in India does not even include people dying in their huts, homes and villages who are unable to be admitted in hospitals. Hospitals are out of beds. We are out of Hospitals. Families desperately vie for oxygen supplies, as people attempt to care for their sick while Hospitals are unable to admit patients anymore. The entire country has become a funeral ground. Clinics are now at full capacity, and mobile clinics are unable to keep up. India is a major coronavirus vaccines maker, but we are unable to keep up with demands. It seems people are neither able to live nor die peacefully. States are utilizing what once used to be playgrounds for the children as a venue for burning bodies.
We here at NICM have temporarily suspended all activities and projects for a period of two weeks for now until we can figure out what all we can do or not do while adhering to government regulations. As of right now, NICM board is organizing an emergency board meeting in order to see how we can aggressively help combat the spread of the virus and to prepare all of our constituents from a gruesome and horrifying end. For now, it seems like we would benefit from oxygen supplies, but we will send another letter describing in acute details about how we might be able to cheaply purchase effective oximeters, portable O2 tanks, electric Oxygen concentrators and nasal tubes. We are communicating with Dr. Neeraj to see how we can help others. Any ideas would be immensely helpful. Although, many ladies from our Bible study groups are setting up home kitchens and cooking food during the lockdown in order to deliver them to the poor who can neither afford to eat nor get out to buy food. This is something that we can help them do on a larger level by purchasing food bags and disposable tiffins. In any case, we need to purchase a few oxygen kits for the time being just to stock up in a worst case scenario, but any help towards food stocks will be appreciated greatly.
I want to thank everyone for keeping us in your prayers, but India needs your prayers and help at the moment.
Praying
Simmi
If you would like to help feed hungry families during the lockdown click on this link Help Feed Hungry Families