The Bnei Menashe – descendants of the tribe of Manasseh, one of the Ten Lost Tribes – reported extensive damage to their community in the Indian state of Manipur following a6.7 magnitude earthquake that struck northeastern India early Monday. At least nine people were killed and more than 90 injured.

“The earthquake struck early in the morning and buildings shook violently,” said Tzvi Khaute, Shavei Israel's emissary to Manipur and a member of the Bnei Menashe community. “Thank G-d no one among the Bnei Menashe was injured or killed.There is, however, extensive damage from the quake.”

Shavei Israel, an organisation whose ai mis to strengthen the ties between the Jewish people, the State of Israel and the descendants of Jews around the world, has launched an emergency relief fund to assist members of the Bnei Menashe community affected by the natural disaster.

“We are in touch with the leaders of the Bnei Menashe community throughout northeastern India. Miraculously no one in the community was harmed, but we are concerned by reports of damage to homes and property,” said Shavei Israel Chairman and Founder Michael Freund.

In recent years, some 3,000 Bnei Menashe, whose ancestors were exiled from the Land of Israel more than 2,700 years ago by the Assyrian empire, have made aliyah thanks to Shavei Israel.

According to Freund, there are still 7,000 Bnei Menashe living in India and 700 of them, many of whom were affected by the earthquake, are awaiting final permission to immigrate to Israel in 2016. ‘’I call on the Israeli government to bring them home to Zion as soon as possible,” he added.