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Foreigners raising funds to help quake victims

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POKHARA, May 9: When glimpses of damages and casualties caused by deadly earthquake of April 25 and aftershocks appeared on his facebook, Michael Bonvino was not only shocked but broke down into tears.

The devastating news from Nepal has shattered the American, who had just reached Agra, India after finishing his visit to Nepal.

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Michael, who was much impressed by the hospitality extended by Nepalis during his recent stay here, has returned to Nepal from India, extending his visa.

"I became sad and I did not like to spend time in India anymore," Michael told Republica. "I came back to Nepal to stand by Nepalis at this troublesome moment."

So far, Michael has raised Rs 1 million through his own efforts. At least Rs 1,000,000 is raised every day, according to him.



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For fundraising to assist quake victims in Nepal, he has launched 'Nepal Earthquake Relief' account in the world famous site 'GoFundMe.Com.' Generous people from all over the world have been contributing to the account.

The funds collected through the fundraising website are sent to earthquake victims in affected areas through Pokhara based social organizations, including Nepal Red Cross Society of Kaski, Kopila Nepal, Paddle Nepal and Earthquake Volunteers Mission.

Even his family and friends from the USA have been asking him to return home, but he seems determined to help quake victims in need.

"What if there is a similar crisis in the USA?" he told them. After a while comforting his relatives, he said, "Disaster does not recognize any country."

Instead, he told them, "Come to Nepal, and help me with fundraising." Another foreigner, Fabio Puccini from Brazil, who  Michael met in hotel in Pokhara, has also joined the cause.

Fabio is a restaurant entrepreneur based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, while Michael is a royal estate businessman based in Washington DC, USA. Both the foreigners, after canceling their further plans, are busy collecting relief funds to help quake victims in Lamjung and Gorkha districts.


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Sali Dewan, a youth of Pokhara, is assisting them in their efforts. Likewise, Sali has also collected relief fund Rs. 500,000 through the facebook page 'Nepal Earthquake Volunteer - Mission Gorkha'

According to Sali, relief materials purchased by the funds raised through the facebook page have been distributed to quake victims of Taplo VDC-9, Gorkha and Keprung village, Lamjung district in presence of VDC secretaries and local chapters of Nepal Red Cross Society.

A total of 25 members have joined the volunteer relief campaign that was started by Michael, Fabio and Sali. The volunteers are not only youths of Pokhara but foreign nationals, also.

Meanwhile, hotelier Suman Bhattarai of Pokhara Lakeside Hotel has raised Rs 1, 50,000 through 'Nepal Earthquake Relief Fundraising Mo Mo Dinner' and assisted 81 quake affected households of Lamjung district with relief materials.

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