By Joseph Varghese/Staff Reporter
Various organisations and individuals from Qatar have contributed over QR1.2mn to help the victims of this year’s devastating earthquake in Nepal.
The total money received by the Nepal embassy from such contributors amounted to QR1,208,725.
Nitesh Sapkota, second secretary at the embassy, told Gulf Times that individuals and organisations came out in large numbers to assist victims of the earthquake.
“As of June 30, we have received about QR1,208,725 from a number of organisations and individuals. In addition, several people have contributed directly to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund as we had publicised the bank account numbers for everyone to make the payments directly,” said Sapkota.
“As we understand, there have been more contributions directly to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. But we do not have the exact amount that has been credited to the accounts as many of them have not provided us with the details of their contributions,” he added.
According to information provided on the embassy website, 42 individuals and organisations have made contributions to the Nepal embassy in Qatar to help the victims of the earthquake.
The official stressed that there had also been significant contributions in terms of materials. “Various Nepali organisations took the initiative to collect materials from various quarters of the society. They managed to get a good number of clothes and other materials necessary for relief activities in Nepal, which were transported by our national carrier,” he explained.
Further, Sapkota pointed out that workers from Qatar were largely unaffected by the earthquake directly. “Not many workers were on vacation at the time and the areas hit by the earthquake have a relatively low number of people working abroad,” he said. “Only three or four cases of injuries due to the earthquake have been reported about workers from Qatar. Those were all minor injuries and all of them have resumed their work. They were provided with longer leave by their employers.”
The official also highlighted the role of Qatar Red Crescent and Qatar Charity in the relief activities in Nepal. “Both the organisations have contributed greatly to the relief efforts and for the welfare of the affected people. They were able to provide valuable assistance at the ground level immediately after the earthquake, which helped save so many lives and make the relief activities more extensive,” he said.
Sapkota noted that restructuring work was going on in all areas hit by the earthquake. The funds collected are used in this regard and life is returning to normal everywhere in Nepal, he added.
