Feeling their homeland’s pain, Nepalis in the UK raise relief funds

London: Whether it was the massive earthquake a decade ago, the Covid pandemic, or now the devastation of the Bhotekoshi flood, once again it has been proven that the Nepali diaspora in the UK cannot remain untouched by the pain their homeland faces during disasters.

On the morning of August 26, a massive flood in Rasuwa’s Bhotekoshi River caused enormous loss of life and property. Areas along the riverbanks in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and surrounding regions have been severely affected.

While the Nepal government and neighbouring countries mobilise for search, rescue, safe evacuation, and emergency relief, Nepalis in the UK have also opened their hearts to provide financial help for flood victims. Fundraising is ongoing, and since individuals and organisations are collecting separately, it is difficult to determine exactly how much has been transferred to Nepal or is still being raised.

The influential UK-based Nepali organisation Tamu Dhin UK has decided to provide over 10 million rupees in financial assistance to flood victims. Its executive committee, chaired by Jumkaji Gurung, decided at an emergency meeting on Tuesday evening to contribute 1,001,000 rupees in relief. This amount will soon be deposited into the Nepal government’s Prime Minister Relief Fund. Savings from last Sunday’s Nepali fair, along with funds to be raised through a charity trail-walk event from September 11–13, will also go toward flood relief.

Two active NRNA UK bodies in Britain are raising funds separately. The NRNA UK led by Rajendra Pudasaini has already collected nearly 5.2 million rupees through GoFundMe, with plans to send up to 10 million rupees to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. The NRNA UK, chaired by Prem Gaha Magar, is also collecting through GoFundMe and separate fundraising; Gaha Magar said the organisation is acting as a “watchdog” to prevent misuse of the funds raised in the UK and plans to go directly to the affected areas to assist with relief and rehabilitation.

South West Nepali Samaj UK has deposited 1,035,000 rupees into the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. Society chairperson Kisan GC said the amount was sent as part of fulfilling their social responsibility toward the homeland during this natural disaster.

The Nepalese Doctors’ Association UK (NDA UK) has also provided 1.1 million Nepali rupees to help the victims. Meanwhile, Kul Acharya, former president of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), contributed 1,111,111 rupees personally and on behalf of Holy Cow Company to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund.

International Educational Consultancy has provided 1,111,111 rupees to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund. London-based remittance company IME London has provided 1 million rupees; director Kamal Paudel said IME London does not charge any fee for sending money from the UK to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. He added that the Nepalese British Community UK, of which he is a member, has already contributed 1 million rupees and is raising an additional 1 million.

OG Italian Restaurant in Leicester has contributed 555,555 rupees for Bhotekoshi flood victims. The amount, from the management team, staff, and director Dayanidhi Sapkota across all three OG Limited branches (OG Simply Italian, Bistro OG, and OG Kibworth), was deposited into the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for disaster management and immediate rescue and relief work. Of this, Director Sapkota personally contributed 255,555 rupees.

“OG Limited has always stood together during every disaster and difficult situation in the past, and continues that social responsibility toward the country. We express heartfelt thanks to the management team members and all staff who contributed in solidarity to this campaign,” says director Sapkota.

Chitwan Aid Trust (CAT) UK has provided 500,000 rupees to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund to help natural disaster victims.

“This is not just financial help but a symbol of our solidarity, responsibility, and human compassion toward our Nepali brothers and sisters affected by the disaster,” says CAT UK chairperson Raju Acharya.

Meanwhile, a candlelight vigil in memory of those who lost their lives in the flood, along with a fund collection for victims, was held in Bexley, London. The Bexley Nepali Samaj held the event on Wednesday evening with participation from the local borough’s mayor, councillors and more than 160 others. The society announced it will immediately transfer the £6,500 (over 1.3 million rupees) collected so far through its fundraising campaign to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.

Galkot Samaj UK has contributed over 500,000 rupees. Chairperson Bishnu Chalise said 515,758 rupees from the society’s emergency fund had already been deposited into the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.

UK-based Hamro Guthi UK has provided 400,000 rupees to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund for the relief and rehabilitation of families affected by the devastating flood and landslides. The funds, raised through the initiative of coordinator Suman Kumar Kunwar, were deposited into the official relief fund account at Rastriya Banijya Bank’s Singha Durbar branch.

Global Parbat Samaj has deposited 325,000 rupees into the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for Bhotekoshi flood victims. Society chairperson and London-based social worker Dadhi Acharya said the contribution reflects their embrace of social responsibility during this natural disaster in the homeland.

Pokhareli Manch UK has provided 500,000 rupees to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund aimed at helping victims’ relief and rehabilitation. Nepali Samaj Nottingham has contributed £2,500 (over 500,000 rupees) to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund for rescue and relief of flood-affected people in Nepal; the society said it sent this first round from its institutional fund and will raise further community contributions in a second phase.

Matrix Talents and Milanoyar Events, both operating under the same group in the UK, jointly contributed 200,000 rupees for relief and support of flood-affected families in Nepal, Matrix Talents giving 150,000 and Milanoyar Events 50,000.

Srijanshil Leicester Nepal UK, based in Leicester, has contributed 200,000 rupees for flood victims; chairperson Shiv Parajuli confirmed the amount has already been deposited into the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.

Shanti Nepali Samaj UK has immediately sent 250,000 rupees for Rasuwa flood victims.

Char Bhanjyang Tamu Samaj UK has decided to contribute 1.5 million rupees for relief and rescue of those affected by the devastating flood, a decision made at an emergency meeting Tuesday evening chaired by society president Durga Gurung. The society has already sent 500,000 rupees as immediate relief to Nepal through Bina Gurung, a daughter of Char Bhanjyang Tamu Samaj and local representative from the affected area. The remaining 1 million rupees will be raised through voluntary contributions coordinated by Captain Deu Bahadur Gurung, chairperson of the Char Bhanjyang Tamu Samaj International Coordination Council, across seven units in Nepal, the UK, Hong Kong, Europe, Japan and elsewhere, and will be deposited into the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.

Pasa Puchah Guthi UK has also decided to send 1 million rupees to the Prime Minister’s Fund.

Support Nepal UK has contributed £1,500 for flood victims. A-Star Financial Solutions contributed 100,000 rupees to support relief and rescue work, deposited into the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund.

The Nepalese Ladies Community Hounslow (NLCH), London, has turned this year’s Teej celebration into a charity event instead of pure festivity, organising it as “Charity Teej” to help those affected by the natural disaster in Nepal.

The Nepali Embassy in London has appealed to everyone to provide voluntary financial support for the relief, rescue, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of families affected by the devastating flood. In an appeal published on its official website, the embassy expressed solidarity with the disaster and called for contributions to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund.

Billions of rupees have now been collected from within Nepal and abroad into the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund, established for the search, rescue, relief and rehabilitation of citizens affected by the devastating flood on the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa district.

UK announces £5 million in support

Immediately after the flood, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced £5 million to support relief and rescue efforts in Nepal. PM Burnham recalled the historic relationship between Nepal and the UK and the mutual support the two countries have given each other in difficult times, noting that Nepal had helped Britain when it was needed in the past, and that Britain now stands ready to help Nepal in its time of need.

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