The United Kingdom is home to more than 300,000 Nepali speaking people. Retired soldiers from the Brigade of Gurkha of the British Army and their families have come to the UK in recent years under the British government’s immigration policy for Gurkha. Many have arrived at an elderly age and can only understand the Nepali language.  

Recently we all received letter from the Government along with an information leaflet about coronavirus. The letter and information leaflet are key to saving lives but are only available in English. The letter has been translated into Nepali and circulated to Nepali speaking people through social media. https://nrnauk.org/archives/1523

The government has instructed everyone to visit the government website for updated information. Public Health England and some local governments are also providing similar information; however, they are available in English as well as a few other languages only.

The elderly family members of the retired Gurkha are among the most vulnerable people in this coronavirus crisis. They have been left behind in unsafe conditions without due care and appropriate information on how to stay safe. The helpless individuals of the bereaved Gurkha and their families just want access to appropriate information on how to survive this coronavirus crisis in a language they understand.

They came to a country that they and their families served for their entire lives. Now, in their elderly age, they are helplessly facing an unprecedented health crisis. The GP (General Practitioner) is there to help but speaks and understands English only. There is a designated telephone helpline, but again, it is only available in English. Media and local governments are offering information and help, but they are also in English only. The Public Health England and other government agencies are providing information and updates on their websites; however, it is in English as well as a few other languages (not in Nepali language). All the help and support available to the Gurkha is in a language they cannot understand.

The Nepali Gurkha have remained loyal to the British Crown. Over the last 200 years, tens of thousands of brave Gurkha have sacrificed their lives for the British Crown. They have served the British interests around the globe for over a century. They have given their lives for Britain. They have given blood for Britain, and now, they are begging for life-saving information in their language.

We would like to request you to include Nepali Language in the list of other language to provide coronavirus update and information, to assist in saving the lives of these brave and honest Nepali speaking people.