AN EMERGENCY appeal has begun to provide shelter, food and water in Nepal.
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The Asha Foundation’s Moruya-based president Pauline Gleeson said funds were urgently needed for tarpaulins and other emergency supplies to Kathmandu and devastated regions.
She said a foundation school in devastated in Bhadratar could cost up to $50,000 to replace.
However, the first priority was shelter for surviving children and a temporary school.
“It has been proven in a disaster situation, if the children can go to school, it keeps their minds off what has happened,” she said.
The foundation will send money to two staff based in Kathmandu, who will then buy the supplies needed.
Mrs Gleeson said any help was welcome.
“It is going to take a lot of money to get everyone back on their feet and provide the basic necessities of food, water, medicine and shelter,” she said.
“There is no welfare; these people depend on aid-agencies.
“One-hundred per cent of donations go to the people, we don’t use any for us, we are all volunteers.”
Mrs Gleeson said on Thursday that $20,000 had been donated since the appeal was launched on Monday.
“That sounds like a lot but it will go really quickly,” she said.
“We are sending $6000 today.
“There is so much destruction.
“I am so grateful; the generosity of people has been amazing.”
Two-thousand tarps were needed in the
village of Kuntabesi alone.
The Asha Foundation had been fundraising for toilets in the Bhadratar village school before the earthquake struck.
“(Narooma’s) Pat Reid was organising a fundraiser for toilets and water at the Bhadratar school, as the children did not have toilets and were relieving themselves in the fields,” Mrs Gleeson said.
“Now there is no school, so the fundraiser has shifted to our emergency appeal.”
Moruya Rotary will appeal at the Moruya Markets on Saturday.
To donate visit www.ashafoundation.org.au/emergency-appeal.