HOTEL staff in York are supporting the earthquake relief efforts for Nepal by asking for donations to be sent to the country.

Many of the staff at Fulford's Pavilion Hotel are Nepalese and came to York with family members who serve in the Gurkha regiment based at Imphal Barracks.

The team is collecting goods including energy rich foods like protein bars and biscuits, dried food, chocolate, can openers, pain killers, plasters, bandages, sanitiser and anti septic wipes, diarrhoea pills, personal hygiene items, thick rubber gloves for handling debris, torches, sleeping bags, tents, plastic sheets and rubbish bags, insect repellent and toilet paper.

Nearby businesses Miller Food Services and Hepworth Pharmacy have already helped out with donations, and the hotel is appealing for more over the weekend.

The donations will be collected on Monday and the York-based Gurhkas and ex Gurkhas are helping to arrange for them to be transported to Nepal.

Meanwhile, a York dentist who last month returned from a charity mission to Nepal is raising money to help rebuild their lives.

Andrea Ubhi worked with charity Asha Nepal, which helps young women and children affected by sex trafficking.

Eighty-one girls were living at the Asha Nepal Shelter when the earthquake struck. All the charity's children and staff are unharmed, but one of the four residential buildings was badly damaged.

Ms Ubhi, who runs Andrea Ubhi cosmetic dentistry in Stonegate, York, said: "For several days the children and residential team had to sleep outside due to many aftershocks and fear that the buildings would fall down on them.There are still aftershocks and they have to run outside every time, which is creating stress and panic."

Ms Ubhi said the centre's water tank had been damaged, and there has been a ban placed on showers to conserve water for drinking. And with sewers broken the risk of disease is growing.

During her visit, Ms Ubhi worked with the Nepali team of Asha Nepal which is planning to open a new foster home for children affected by trafficking, as well as by both domestic labour and sex trafficking and to start an a Anti-Trafficking Campaign in schools.

Ms Ubhi said: "The earthquake means food and shelter are now the main priority and so Asha Nepal needs money for basics like water and food, especially with prices rising due to scarcity.

"The next stage will be rebuilding their lives and replacing basics like clothes, bedding, basic furniture, and rebuilding the properties. Even more worrying, the risk of trafficking is rising as traffickers take misplaced girls and orphans away, so our work is ever more important both to protect the girls in our care and other girls who need help because they even more vulnerable since the earthquake."

Ms Ubhi is urging people to help raise funds at mydonate.bt.com/events/earthquakeappeal/224463 or www.asha-nepal.org.