Hong Kong star Jackie Chan joins a Chinese delegation delivering earthquake relief supplies to Kathmandu, Nepal, June 9, 2015. The China Red Cross Society, Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation Beijing, and Taobao Found, under China Red Cross Society, jointly sponsored 5000 family kits, worth a total of four million yuan ($644,000 U.S. dollars). (Photo: China News Service/Fu Yongkang)
Hollywood Kung Fu superstar Jackie Chan finds himself being more loved for visiting people personally rather than his donation of 5,000 boxes of relief aid essential for the quake victims.
During his trip to the quake-hit Himalayan nation on Tuesday, the martial arts master realized the affection of his fans toward him as he distributed the relief supplies to the displaced families in the aftermath of the massive 7.9-magnitude earthquake on April 25.
"I felt coming to Nepal is more important than donating money. I want to tell the people of Nepal that you are not alone. We all own this world, this earth," Chan told Xinhua.
The international superstar had landed in Kathmandu's Tribhuwan International Airport to extend the support to the victims through his Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation in partnership with the Chinese Red Cross Foundation.
He received a warm welcome and a lot of love was shown by the people of Kathmandu who were excitedly shouting "Jackie Chan, Jackie Chan" upon his arrival in the capital. They not only greeted the actor with flowers and a Khaada garland but also with a traditional Nepali cap known as Dhaka Topi.
Though the news of his visit was kept quiet, it could not stop the photographers and fans following him during his tour.
Such cheerful and at times frenzied fan-following, sent a clear message to the superstar that the Nepalese are full of positivity and high spirits, who can smile while enduring devastation and pain.
He sees the love of the Nepalese fans as a symbol of hope for the post-quake reconstruction.
The superstar, who was in Nepal for only a few hours, told Xinhua, "Disasters do not have a one-day recovery. It takes a few years so patience is necessary. The Nepalese people should not feel alone in this post-quake phase."
The foundation provided 5,000 disaster relief family packages to the Nepal Red Cross Society for distribution in the worst-hit districts like Sindhupalchowk, Dolakha, Dhading and Nuwakot.
Earlier, martial art expert Chan had already donated 100,000 Singapore dollars for the quake-victims of Nepal in May.
This 61-year-old superstar gave the relief family boxes to the local people by hand. Proving his kind-hearted personality, he also hugged and shook hands with a few of the victims sitting in wheel chairs.
At a time when this quake-stricken nation is moving toward a reconstruction phase from rescue and relief operations, the support of such Hollywood celebrities have strengthened the willpower of the victims for building a "better tomorrow."
Krishna Gautam, a differently-abled person who received the relief family package from Chan in Jawalakhel ground told Xinhua, "We feel so lucky to have the support of such a kind-hearted person. It has motivated us to be more hopeful for the future."
The death toll in the massive quake has already surpassed 8,700 people and hundreds of thousands of houses have been destroyed, leaving many more displaced and living in makeshift shelters.
Amid such a situation, the visit of such a renowned celebrity has provided a sort of motivation to the displaced people to forge ahead and come to terms with the reality of nature.
"We are moving toward rebuilding and reconstruction. In such a situation, the support of Jackie Chan is highly inspirational," Ishwor Regmi, project coordinator at the Nepal Red Cross Society, said.
