West raises thousands for Nepalese flood victims

People across the West of England have raised thousands of pounds for survivors of the Nepalese flash floods through buffets, vigils and fundraisers.

Kabul Maharjan, who lives in Yate, said his relatives "lost everything" in the August floods that were unleashed by an avalanche of rock and ice on the Nepal-Tibet border, killing more than 1,400 people.

Since then, Maharjan, along with his wider family, has raised about £20,000 to support the victims.

Elsewhere, a fundraising buffet event took place at Yak Yeti Yak on Sunday in Bath, and the Nepalese Association of Wiltshire held a candlelight vigil in Swindon on Saturday for those affected.

Maharjan's family in Nepal live in Trishuli Bazar, the site of the deadly floods.

More than 6,000 people are still missing following the natural disaster, according to Nepal Police.

"Two houses have been lost that my uncle and aunt were living in, and they're living in temporary accommodation at the moment," Maharjan said.

"My uncle had a restaurant, and my cousins had clothing stores, and they've lost their businesses."

Maharjan said he and his loved ones have been "humbled" by the response to their fundraising efforts, and the money raised will go towards emergency housing, clean drinking water, food, clothing, and basic household items.

In Bath, Sarah Gurung, chairwoman of the YYY Foundation and owner of Nepalese restaurant Yak Yeti Yak, hosted a buffet to raise money for disaster relief.

Since the floods, the charity has arranged classroom items, sanitary products, and clothes for a primary school on higher ground in the Trishuli area.

Gurung said her husband is visiting Nepal in January, and she will go in March to assist with aid efforts.

"The government will tell us, 'There's a little school we've rebuilt up there; there are 50 children in it. Can you go and equip it with everything they need?'" Gurung said of her Nepalese aid trips.

Gurung urged Britons not to cancel trips to the country, as "only a small area of Nepal is affected, and the devastation is total".

"The economy really needs their money," she said.

"So, by withdrawing their money at a time like this, [visitors are] actually doing Nepal a great disservice."

In Swindon, Gyan Gurung, a councillor and former president of the Nepalese Association of Wiltshire, said the vigil was "a fantastic event", with more than £4,000 collected for the Prime Minister's fund in Nepal.

"The disaster was horrendous; lots of people lost their families and friends, we wanted to pray for them," he said.

"There are hundreds of children who have been left without parents."