Students ask Tauranga to 'pray for Nepal'

Tauranga's Nepalese students are today lining the footpath in central Tauranga with signs saying "Pray for Nepal" and asking for any donations to help their home land.

Their homes have been destroyed, they have lost family members, they have limited contact with their families and no way to get home.

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24-year-old Bel Pun said the situation was "terrible".

"It's been terrible. We've been trying to contact our home but the network has been down.

"We can't do anything but support and pray... Obviously we're trying to go home but we can't get tickets. We want to see our parents."

Most of the students had now been able to make contact with their families but in some cases their villages were destroyed and their loved ones had died.

They were collecting funds today and would help in any way they could, she said.