Hundreds of people are expected at an inter-faith prayer assembly in London’s East End today with an appeal for donations to the Nepal earthquake disaster international relief operation.

East London Advertiser: Devastation... Nepal Earthquake disaster appeal: www.dec.org.uk [photos: Islamic Relief]Devastation... Nepal Earthquake disaster appeal: www.dec.org.uk [photos: Islamic Relief] (Image: Islamic Relief)

The assembly held at the East London Mosque in Whitechapel begins at 12-noon, organised by the Islamic Relief charity.

“Muslims, Jews and Christians have come together across the country to show their support for the people of Nepal,” a charity spokesman said.

“The events like this on ein Whitechapel today have been organised to highlight the role that faith groups are playing in the relief effort, and raise awareness of how people can support the relief operation.”

Jehangir Malik, UK director of Islamic Relief, is joining leaders of the three faiths for the assembly to boost the Nepal Earthquake Appeal.

East London Advertiser: Devastation... Nepal Earthquake disaster appeal: www.dec.org.uk [photos: Islamic Relief]Devastation... Nepal Earthquake disaster appeal: www.dec.org.uk [photos: Islamic Relief] (Image: Islamic Relief)

The appeal has already raised £26 million, following last Saturday’s devastating earthquake which has affected eight million people, many made homeless.

Food, water, relief supplies and shelter kits are being airlifted to remote villages cut off by the disaster.

An estimated eight million people have been affected by the earthquake across a remote region with poor services and a precarious road network. A-third of the population was already living two or more hours’ walk from the nearest good road. Journeys that used to take four hours are now taking aid organisations one-and-a-half days, following landslides and destruction.

“Aid teams are working round-the-clock to get supplies into Nepal and to people who need it,” Appeals committee chief Saleh Saeed said.

“Getting the huge amount of essential supplies needed to the hundreds of thousands of people whose homes have been damaged or destroyed is a huge logistical challenge. It is being hampered by the limited capacity of the one main airport and extremely difficult terrain in the areas affected.

Aid agencies have already distributed shelter materials to camps in the Kathmandu Valley and 750 shelter kits will reach remote Dolarka tomorrow. Aid is getting though by any means possible, including tractor in some cases.

Fuel shortages, power cuts and communications black outs are all making aid delivery more difficult.

Donations to the Nepal Earthquake Appeal can be made online, by phone 24 hours a day on 0370 60 60 900, or at high street banks and post offices. Donations of £5 can also be made by texting “SUPPORT” to 70000.