By Joseph Varghese/Staff Reporter

The Nepalese embassy in Doha has stepped up efforts to send relief materials to earthquake victims in the Himalayan country.
The massive April 25 earthquake that hit Nepal last month and the ongoing after tremors, have left thousands dead and hundreds of thousands homeless in the tiny Himalayan country.
Speaking to Gulf Times yesterday, Nitesh Sapkota, second secretary at the Nepalese embassy, said that the embassy is making arrangements to send relief materials to Nepal.
He said, “We have had talks with several companies in this regard. We have finalised the plans with Qatar Airways and Nepal Airlines and they will transport the relief materials very frequently according to the availability and the volume of the materials.”
The official maintained that the list of materials to be sent, should be given to the embassy. “If any organisation wants to send materials to Nepal, they should notify the embassy about the details of the items they want to send. Then, we will notify them about the time and place for dropping the materials.”
Sapkota said that the collection of relief materials has already been started. “Clothes, blankets, outdoor tents, dry fruits and other necessary items are being collected. Several Nepali organisations are co-ordinating the efforts. Those who want to contribute can contact Binod on 55535968 who is an official of the non–resident Nepali
association in Qatar.”
The second secretary said that the embassy has so far collected QR167,000 from different individuals and organisations. “Some of the people have sent the money directly to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, while others have deposited the money in the bank account that the embassy has opened for this purpose.”
According to the embassy official, many schools have contacted the embassy to provide assistance. “Around 17-18 schools have informed us that they are collecting money. Once the process is over we hope that they will approach us with the money. Some schools have also expressed their willingness to arrange materials.”
Sapkota also noted that the situation in Nepal is very grave and people are still worried about the possibility of bigger earthquakes hitting the country. “The situation has become all the more terrifying after another earthquake on Tuesday. People are terrified to stay indoors and they fear that bigger earthquakes might follow.”
He said so far about 70-80 Nepali workers in Qatar have approached the embassy for assistance to visit their homes.