The relative of an Islamic Help worker has described the scenes of devastation in Nepal after the we...

The relative of an Islamic Help worker has described the scenes of devastation in Nepal after the weekend’s massive earthquake which has left an estimated 10,000 people dead.

More than 500,000 people have been displaced and 8 million – over a quarter of the country’s population – are in need of immediate emergency aid following Saturday’s quake, the strongest to hit the Himalayan nation in 80 years.

Fairoza, a cousin of Islamic Help’s donor relations manager Zohab Musa, has been volunteering at a school in the capital, Kathmandu, which is among the cities hardest hit by the quake.

Its landmarks, buildings and infrastructure have been reduced to rubble, leaving large parts of the population to sleep on the streets and tens of thousands of people have fled the capital fearing aftershocks.

“I have been volunteering at a school in Kathmandu and got caught up in it all,” said Fairoza.

“We’re just on the outskirts, the building didn’t collapse but everything else around is destroyed. We all have to stay outdoors as it is unsafe.

“The aftershocks are strong, frequent and regular. I am staying on the flight path so can see all the planes for aid flying in, but aid is low. There is a lack of power for phones so it’s difficult to communicate.”

The day after the earthquake, she described the dire conditions facing local people. “It is raining badly and we have to sleep outside. We have only blankets, no tents and we are getting bit by all sorts of insects.

“Conditions are bad, so we have moved nearer the epicentre to be able to help people. There is constant movement of people and now the risk of disease.”

Islamic Help is working with partners to deliver emergency aid to Nepal. We will be providing emergency food parcels and tents plus essential non-food items to help families survive their ordeal.

For £25, we can supply food parcels for a family to last them up to a month.

A package including a tent for shelter plus NFI (non-food items) like blankets and clothing costs just £50.

Please support the people of Nepal.