AS Roma will use Thursday’s Champions League fixture against Fenerbahce in Istanbul to support relief efforts in Nepal, with the Italian club set to wear special jerseys featuring the World Food Programme (WFP) logo.
Roma announced on Wednesday that the team would wear the shirts after being prohibited from displaying its regular sponsor in Turkey. The club’s usual shirt sponsor is a sports betting company, which is banned from advertising under Turkish law.
“The visitors will take to the pitch with the World Food Programme (WFP) logo on the front of their shirts,” the Italian club said ahead of Thursday’s game in Istanbul.
The match comes after a flash flood on August 26, triggered by a glacier and rockslide that began on the China-Nepal border.
The one-off shirts, featuring the WFP logo and the message “Together for Nepal”, are intended to raise money for those affected by the disaster. The WFP is a Rome-based agency of the United Nations.
“The shirts worn by Gian Piero Gasperini’s players during the match will be auctioned, with all funds raised going towards supporting the people of Nepal through the WFP’s relief efforts,” Roma added.
Death Toll Rises To 1365
Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel has called on the government to accelerate rescue, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts as the death toll from the devastating flash floods rose to 1,365.
During an interaction with ministers at his residence on Wednesday, Paudel stressed the need to step up efforts to restore the transport system and rehabilitate affected communities. He also suggested seeking assistance from the international community to develop major infrastructure projects that are beyond Nepal’s national capacity, according to Nepali Congress lawmaker Arjun Narsingh K C.
The president further urged the government to make search and rescue operations more effective, noting that there remains a possibility of rescuing people affected by the disaster.
“Nepal should raise its voice on international forums in a way to secure compensation for the loss and damage caused by climate change,” President Paudel said during an interaction with the ministers at his residence.
According to a Nepal Police, rescue teams are continuing their search for 5,326 people still missing, including at least 589 foreign nationals.
With Inputs From Agencies
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