Dubai, UAE -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/18/2015 -- Dubai-based television personality, entrepreneur and celebrity partner of United Nations World Food Program (WFP), Uma Ghosh Deshpande joins WFP's humanitarian efforts in raising funds for relief work in Nepal. In wake of the two earthquakes that have hit Nepal, on April 25th and May 12th, more than 8 million people in 39 districts have been severely affected. With over 5,000 deaths and 9,000 injured people, WFP has mounted a massive response to meet the urgent needs of the survivors, which include food, water, shelter and medication.

WFP, the lead UN logistics agency, is providing logistics services for the entire humanitarian community to support relief of all kinds reaching all affected communities. WFP has launched a US$ 116.6 million Corporate Response Emergency Operation (CR-EMOP) aiming to support 1.4 vulnerable and food-insecure people in the Western and Central regions over the coming three months.

With 162 staff on the ground, including 135 pre-emergency, and an additional 55 scheduled to arrive; WFP is committed to relief work not only in Kathmandu Valley but also in more remote areas, including the most affected districts of Ghorka and Dhading where food stocks were lost and markets have not recovered. In other affected areas, where household food stocks have been partially lost and markets are partially functioning and recovering rapidly, WFP will carry out cash transfers to allow survivors immediate access to their preferred kinds of food.

Mountainous terrain, infrastructure damage, collapsed bridges and damaged roads make access to many affected areas challenging. With the start of monsoon rains in a month, access of the remote and rural areas will be curtailed. WFP is racing against time to deliver relief assistance to survivors of the earthquakes.

"In the face of two devastating earthquakes, severe tragedies and an uncertain future, a contribution as small as AED 2 can help make a difference. We can all lend compassion to those in need," says Uma. Uma has been closely associated with WFP's efforts towards creating a world with zero hunger, by spreading the message to her thousands of viewers and fans across the world. As a part of her global responsibility with WFP, Uma has also visited the Za'atari camp in Jordan for a hands on understanding of the situation. "WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger and providing food assistance to more than 90 million people in over 80 countries on average each year. I feel blessed to partner with WFP and make a difference to a cause very close to my heart," she adds.

For more details on the ongoing relief fund for Nepal, please visit http://m.wfp.org/emergencies/nepal. You can also refer to the latest news issued on: www.wfp.org/Nepal