Suddenly the table and the entire wall began to swing,” says human rights campaigner Radha Paudel, describing the moment the massive earthquake hit Nepal.

She witnessed firsthand the death and destruction cause by the 7.8- magnitude earthquake in the remote mountainous areas of the country.

Currently more than 5,000 are reported dead and in excess of 7,000 have been injured and numbers are still rising.

Radha, founder and president of Action Works Nepal, works on projects to improve the rights of Nepalese women and she has worked with the University of Essex to highlight their plight.

She says: “Me and my team were having a meeting on the third floor of the office.

“Suddenly the table and entire wall started to swing.

The men in the office ran away but the women decided to remain there. We were in shock and we tried to gather ourselves to leave but the earthquake struck again and again and we couldn’t move.”

The impact of the earthquake caused the area to go into lockdown.

Radha says: “The phones shut down and we were completely disconnected.

Our office cracked and we are now in a rental house.

Even now we keep on feeling aftershocks.

“I have lost friends in the earthquake and people have lost their property. Many public properties have also been destroyed and this has had an impact on our daily life and our mission with Action Works Nepal.”

She says that action needs to be taken to get aid to people.

“The rescue and relief in many areas is not reaching the people who need it. We planned to go outside of Kathmandu where victims don't receive support but do not have the funds to hire a mini truck and other essential materials.

“Action Works Nepal is working in its own way by providing food and materials in the shelter in Kathmandu .

Today, we have assigned five trained nurses to the hospital.

We could do more if we have more hands.”

Radha is experienced at working in a crisis and during the Nepalese Civil War (1996 to 2006) she treated injured soldiers and rebels in the field hospitals and later raised enough money to establish a blood bank and a hospital for maternal surgery.

She believes the government have been slow to act in the aftermath of the natural disaster of the quake.

“The government is trying but they lack the skills and knowledge. Most of the ministers are vocal and very experienced in cutting ribbons but not in a crisis,” she says.

“They seemed so slow and ineffective even though the international community have supported government. We do not have access to government funds and are unable to do everything we want to do.”

Radha wants to reach out to people who want to help support the cause.

“This devastating earthquake is not our choice.

We are panicked seeing helpless people and we are committed to do something for them. But we are unable to do all we want due to lack of funds. We would like to rent a vehicle and other essential materials and mobilize volunteers, but we need your support.”

Visit www.action worksnepal.com to donate or for further details.