Appeals History
The Bhopal Medical Appeal was launched on December 3, 1994 – the 10th anniversary of the Union Carbide gas disaster in Bhopal – with an advertisement in The Guardian newspaper. It told the story of that night when thousands died in the old city’s narrow alleys and asked for help in setting up a free clinic to care for those who were still suffering and who to that point had received little or no help.
The generosity of the response enabled us to buy a building in Bhopal and commence recruiting staff. The clinic opened its doors some 18 months later. Since then, the readers of The Guardian have been joined by those of many other newspapers and magazines in which our appeals have appeared.
In 2005, the clinic moved to a new purpose-designed building which stands in two acres of medicinal gardens where herbs used in ayurvedic treatments are grown. Sadly, many of the injuries suffered on ‘that night’ can never be cured, and over the years thousands of children have been born malformed or brain-damaged. While survivors of the gas are still dying at the rate of one a day from their injuries, damaged children continue to born. So the need for the medical work, to alleviate suffering and provide longterm care, continues.
Since 1994, our fundraising appeals have built a base of loyal supporters in the UK and abroad, thanks to whom the clinic is able to continue providing an outstanding free medical service to the survivors of the gas leak and the subsequent water poisoning. To date we have treated around 35,000 people, most of whom would otherwise have been abandoned to a horrible fate. We are deeply grateful to all our donors and supporters. If you can, please download and print out these appeals and place them on school, college and office noticeboards, or anywhere else where they may be seen and read.
