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JAI JAI NEPAL
Help Nepal Network (www.helpnepal.net)— the first global charity run by Nepalese—has made fresh appeals to expatriate Nepalese and friends of Nepal to come forward in support of victims of floods that have ravaged various districts of terai in Nepal over the last few weeks.

Help Nepal Network (HeNN) has already raised over £5,000 pounds within the first week of its appeal to help the flood victims, the organisation said.



Director of HealthCare Nepal Jack Starmer.
In response to its appeal to initially raise 5,000 pounds, Jack Starmer of HealthCare Nepal—a USA-based charity—announced that he would make a donation of five thousand pounds to HeNN to support the flood disaster relief work in terai. "I have been impressed with how your Kathmandu staff has gotten the most out of a rupee/dollar and trust their judgment in how best to use the funds," he said in a mail to HeNN. "Thanks for taking the initiative to raise these funds. I'd been wondering how we might help and you gave us a way."

Mr. Starmer has been a long-time supporter of HeNN and has donated thousands of dollars to HeNN's various projects through HealthCare Nepal. He has also supported several other projects in Nepal.

HeNN has thanked Jack for his generous support and has called upon the Non-Resident Nepalese and friends of Nepal to come forward with a notion of help and compassion towards tens of thousands of flood victims. In a fresh appeal, chairman of HeNN USA Shailesh Gongol said, " No matter how busy we are and how tough our jobs, we have it much easier and comfortable than those who are wet, hungry, and sick. In addition to asking others to contribute, please make a donation yourself however small, because no matter how high your rents or mortgages or credit card bills are, you are not homeless," the appeal said.

Online contribution to Flood Relief Fund set up by the HeNN can be made by visiting the weblink: http://www.helpnepal.net/about/donate.htm

The HeNN has now revised its estimates to raise over 10,000 pounds and has called upon all the expatriate Nepalis and friends of Nepal to come forward and help generously to their fellow countrymen in this hour of need.

Set up in 1999 and run on fully voluntary basis, Help Nepal Network now has its chapters in one dozen countries around the world. It has been contributing towards improvement of health and education facilities in remote parts of Nepal.

Based on the philosophy of Nepalis for Nepal, the charity administers "One Pound/One Dollar a month Fund for Nepal," and has been in the forefront of mobilizing the goodwill and support of Nepalis around the world for charitable causes back home.

Officials say over 90 people have lost their lives due to this year's flood and nearly 300,000 people have been displaced. Loss of livelihood and damage to infrastructure in a poor, developing country could amount to millions of dollars. The Nepal government has already made appeal to international community to extend their support in its relief and rehabilitation works for flood victims.