Rescue operations in Nepal following the earthquake. Photo: Hilmi Hacologlu

One of the first Britons to climb Everest has appealed directly to the outdoor community to help an appeal for earthquake victims in Nepal.

Doug Scott, who with Dougal Haston posted the first recorded ascent by UK climbers of the world’s highest mountain, said Community Action Nepal urgently needs funds.

The climber, who helped found the charity, said: “There is concern that all ‘mainstream’ funds sent to Nepal are channelled into the Nepali Government’s Earthquake Relief fund.

“CAN, however, already has a substantial emergency fund in Kathmandu, which is helping to take care of immediate needs of mountain communities where CAN operates and CAN’s staff .

“Funds currently being raised by CAN UK supporters will be administered by Community Action Nepal, not government departments and used for the rebuilding of lives and communities.”

Mr Scott said he was delighted to report that CAN’s Earthquake Appeal is now on its way to a first million.

“Well over £100,000 has now been donated during the first 10 days of the appeal and approximately a further £100,000 has been promised,” he said.

The charity also revealed the earthquake demolished a school that was about to be opened after an appeal for money. Villagers at Rowaling who, along with three westerners, had spent two years raising funds, were about to cut a ribbon art an opening ceremony when the tremors struck.

CAN said the village itself is damaged but fortunately people living in the village were only slightly injured.

Mountaineer Doug Scott helped set up the CAN charity

CAN’s nurses in Kathmandu are now working alongside western and other local medics at Swayambhunath Temple where 200 survivors from Langtang are living in a temporary camp. The charity said it was confirmed that at least 400 people lost their lives in Langtang valley.

CAN’s overseers have been directing the rebuilding of Bihi and Prok health posts, a previously planned project.

“We hope to send a helicopter full of supplies and then bring them out of the area so they can check on their own families and give a full report to all the five health posts in North Ghorka that CAN manages as well as the condition of the school at Lihi which CAN has built and an assessment of the needs of the local villagers,” a spokesperson said.

“The paths below Bihi to the road-head is too dangerous to walk at present, hence the helicopter.

“In Khumbu, the Sherpa Heritage House in Khumjung has been badly damaged and although not number one priority at the moment, CAN will assist in administering any rebuilding efforts in the future.

“Pertemba Sherpa is returning to his ancestral home in Khumjung to assess the damage to the Heritage House and will also visit Machermo and Gokyo Porter Rescue shelters that CAN built and International Porter Protection Group run to further assess damage.”

The charity said its big UK event this year on 24 September at the Royal Geographical Society in London for the Everest 40th anniversary lecture will now be a special fundraiser to repair these porter rescue shelters.

Sir Chris Bonington, Doug Scott, Tut Braithwaite will be speaking, along with Dr Jim Duff from Australia, one of the two doctors on the South-West Face climb and who went on to set up IPPG.

More details are on the Community Action Nepal website.