South African humanitarian mission Gift of the Givers will continue to supply aid to earthquake victims in Nepal after a second earthquake rocked the country on Tuesday. A 7.4 magnitude quake, with an epicentre near Mount Everest, caused several buildings in the capital Kathmandu to collapse.

Gift of the Givers head Imtiaz Sooliman said that the foundation would continue to send aid to the country, which is now in the grip of a humanitarian crisis.

“To go through the experience once is a lifetime, but to go through it twice is an eternity. The population of Nepal have just experienced a second 7.4 major earthquake in less than three weeks after the major 7.8 quake.

“So far 8 000 people died in the first incident, 17 000 were injured, thousands left homeless and millions living in fear with each oncoming after shock,” he said.

“In the wake of this second large earthquake our greatest contribution as South Africans to the people in Nepal will be cash to purchase food, tents and medical supplies to ensure some kind of physical support for thousands who will be homeless through destroyed homes or through fear of aftershocks.”

“With the monsoon rains already on the way this is the least we can do for the people of Nepal. Trauma counselling and housing reconstruction will be considered as future options,” Sooliman added.

Contributions to Gift of the Givers, Standard Bank, Pietermaritzburg, Account No. 052278611, Branch code 057525. Please fax or email deposit slip with full contact details for acknowledgement purposes. Details 0800786911. News24