Volunteers 料金d COVID-19 患者s, doctors in Nepal hospital

By Associated 圧力（をかける）

Published: | Updated:

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) - From his pharmacy outside Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Bikram Bhadel saw what happened when coronavirus lockdowns の近くにd the 施設´s cafeteria and nearby cafes.

"Every day I watched the 患者s, their families, doctors and other health 労働者s struggling to get a good meal," Bhadel said. "They were already having a 堅い time and the food 状況／情勢 was making it worse. This is where I decided that I need to step in and help out."

He took 1 million rupees ($8,333) out of his family´s 貯金. And with the help of his friend Indra Kumar Newar -- a taxi driver who had no work in 最近の months 予定 to the lockdowns -- he rented a 空いている restaurant across the street from the hospital, bought groceries and 雇うd a few helpers.

Now, at one of Napal´s largest hospitals, more than 200 COVID-19 患者s, doctors, nurses and 労働者s get hot, tasty and nutritious food three times a day.

"I have heard there is no 薬／医学 for the COVID-19 患者s and the only thing to do is to take care of them and give them health food to help 回復する and 回復する their 免疫. This is what we are trying to do to help," Bhadel said.

The meals are vegetarian, 用意が出来ている after 協議するing with nutritionists. They 申し込む／申し出 a combination of rice, lentil, beans, vegetables, fruit and salad for brunch and dinner, and 軽食s in afternoon.

A Volunteer packs food for doctors and COVID-19 patients in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, a pharmacist and taxi driver have teamed up to feed COVID-19 patients, doctors, nurses and health workers. Due to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have closed, leaving more than 200 staffers, patients and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and donations and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and paying helpers to provide the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

A Volunteer packs food for doctors and COVID-19 患者s in Kathmandu, Nepal, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, a pharmacist and taxi driver have teamed up to 料金d COVID-19 患者s, doctors, nurses and health 労働者s. 予定 to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have の近くにd, leaving more than 200 スタッフの一員s, 患者s and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and 寄付s and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and 支払う／賃金ing helpers to 供給する the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

They begin their day 早期に in the morning. 準備するing hundreds of meals. Food is packed in 使い捨てできる packets and carried by Bhadel and Newar to the hospital 歓迎会 area, where the staff 熱望して を待つs.

"The doctors and health 労働者s have been working 危険ing their own lives and away from their families. It was time to do something for them when they need them," Newar said.

スタッフの一員s work and stay at the hospital for a week on 義務 and then another week in 検疫 before they are 許すd to return home for a week off work. While they are at the hospital, their only 接近 to hot meals has been what the team 配達するs.

Nepal -- which has 49,219 確認するd 事例／患者s of the coronavirus and 312 deaths -- first 課すd a lockdown in March, which lasted for four months. A second lockdown was 始める，決める last month in nearly half the country when the numbers kept rising.

Bhadel and Newar 見積（る） they spend about 50,000 rupees ($416) a day for groceries. They have 雇うd 11 cooks and helpers, all of them paid 最小限 行う and are 定期的に 実験（する）d for the ウイルス.

Families, friends and neighbors have 寄付するd food, money and 供給（する）s. Bhadel and Newar have paid the rent for three months.

"We are 希望に満ちた the 状況／情勢 will get better in three months," Bhadel said, "but if that does not happen, we will continue our work."

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While nonstop news about the 影響s of the coronavirus has become commonplace, so, too, have tales of 親切. "One Good Thing" is a 一連の AP stories 焦点（を合わせる）ing on 微光s of joy and benevolence in a dark time. Read the series at https://apnews.com/中心/one-good-thing

A Volunteer packs food to deliver to Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, a pharmacist and taxi driver have teamed up to feed COVID-19 patients, doctors, nurses and health workers. Due to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have closed, leaving more than 200 staffers, patients and their families without food. The two fr iends have taken their own money and donations and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and paying helpers to provide the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

A Volunteer packs food to 配達する to Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, a pharmacist and taxi driver have teamed up to 料金d COVID-19 患者s, doctors, nurses and health 労働者s. 予定 to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have の近くにd, leaving more than 200 スタッフの一員s, 患者s and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and 寄付s and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and 支払う／賃金ing helpers to 供給する the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Volunteers pack food for COVID-19 patients and health workers at Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. A t one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, a pharmacist and taxi driver have teamed up to feed COVID-19 patients, doctors, nurses and health workers. Due to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have closed, leaving more than 200 staffers, patients and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and donations and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and paying helpers to provide the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Volunteers pack food for COVID-19 患者s and health 労働者s at Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, a pharmacist and taxi driver have teamed up to 料金d COVID-19 患者s, doctors, nurses and health 労働者s. 予定 to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have の近くにd, leaving more than 200 スタッフの一員s, 患者s and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and 寄付s and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and 支払う／賃金ing helpers to 供給する the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Taxi driver Indra Kumar Newar, right, packs food along with a volunteer to deliver to Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Aug. 28, lead 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, Newar and his pharmacist friend have teamed up to feed COVID-19 patients, doctors, nurses and health workers. Due to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have closed, leaving more than 200 staffers, patients and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and donations and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and paying helpers to provide the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Taxi driver Indra Kumar Newar, 権利, packs food along with a volunteer to 配達する to Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Aug. 28, lead 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, Newar and his pharmacist friend have teamed up to 料金d COVID-19 患者s, doctors, nurses and health 労働者s. 予定 to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have の近くにd, leaving more than 200 スタッフの一員s, 患者s and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and 寄付s and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and 支払う／賃金ing helpers to 供給する the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

A volunteer prepares to cook food to deliver to Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, a pharmacist and taxi driver have teamed up to feed COVID-19 patients, doctors, nurses and health workers. Due to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have closed, leaving more than 200 staffers, patients and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and donations and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and paying helpers to provide the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

A volunteer 準備するs to cook food to 配達する to Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, a pharmacist and taxi driver have teamed up to 料金d COVID-19 患者s, doctors, nurses and health 労働者s. 予定 to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have の近くにd, leaving more than 200 スタッフの一員s, 患者s and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and 寄付s and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and 支払う／賃金ing helpers to 供給する the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Taxi driver turned lead volunteer Indra Kumar Newar disinfects a food bag delivering food for COVID-19 patients and health workers at Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. Newar and his friend Bikram Bhadel, a pharmacist, have teamed up to feed hot, tasty and nutritious food three times a day to more than 200 COVID-19 patients, doctors, nurses and workers at one of Nepal's largest hospitals. The two friends have taken their own money and donations and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and paying helpers to provide the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Taxi driver turned lead volunteer Indra Kumar Newar 殺菌するs a food 捕らえる、獲得する 配達するing food for COVID-19 患者s and health 労働者s at Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. Newar and his friend Bikram Bhadel, a pharmacist, have teamed up to 料金d hot, tasty and nutritious food three times a day to more than 200 COVID-19 患者s, doctors, nurses and 労働者s at one of Nepal's largest hospitals. The two friends have taken their own money and 寄付s and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and 支払う／賃金ing helpers to 供給する the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Taxi driver turned lead volunteer Indra Kumar Newar delivers food for COVID-19 patients and health workers at Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. Newar and his friend Bikram Bhadel, a pharmacist, have teamed up to feed hot, tasty and nutritious food three times a day to more than 200 COVID-19 patients, doctors, nurses and workers at one of Nepal's largest hospitals. The two friends have taken their own money and donations and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and paying helpers to provide the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Taxi driver turned lead volunteer Indra Kumar Newar 配達するs food for COVID-19 患者s and health 労働者s at Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. Newar and his friend Bikram Bhadel, a pharmacist, have teamed up to 料金d hot, tasty and nutritious food three times a day to more than 200 COVID-19 患者s, doctors, nurses and 労働者s at one of Nepal's largest hospitals. The two friends have taken their own money and 寄付s and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and 支払う／賃金ing helpers to 供給する the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

A nurse places food outside the COVID-19 isolation ward at Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, a pharmacist and taxi driver have teamed up to feed COVID-19 patients, doctors, nurses and health workers. Due to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have closed, leaving more than 200 staffers, patients and their families without food. The two friends have tak en their own money and donations and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and paying helpers to provide the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

A nurse places food outside the COVID-19 孤立／分離 区 at Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, a pharmacist and taxi driver have teamed up to 料金d COVID-19 患者s, doctors, nurses and health 労働者s. 予定 to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have の近くにd, leaving more than 200 スタッフの一員s, 患者s and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and 寄付s and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and 支払う／賃金ing helpers to 供給する the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Pharmacist Bikram Bhadel gives air hugs to his daughters from outside his house in Kathmandu , Nepal, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. Bhadel and his friend Indra Kumar Newar, a taxi driver, have teamed up to feed hot, tasty and nutritious food three times a day to more than 200 COVID-19 patients, doctors, nurses and workers at one of Nepal's largest hospitals. The two friends have taken their own money and donations and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and paying helpers to provide the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Pharmacist Bikram Bhadel gives 空気／公表する 抱擁するs to his daughters from outside his house in Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. Bhadel and his friend Indra Kumar Newar, a taxi driver, have teamed up to 料金d hot, tasty and nutritious food three times a day to more than 200 COVID-19 患者s, doctors, nurses and 労働者s at one of Nepal's largest hospitals. The two friends have taken their own money and 寄付s and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and 支払う／賃金ing helpers to 供給する the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

A volunteer sticks an order slip on the wall of the kitchen as others pack food for COVID-19 patients and health workers of Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, a pharmacist and taxi driver have teamed up to feed COVID-19 patients, doctors, nurses and health workers. Due to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have closed, leaving more than 200 staffers, patients and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and donations and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and paying helpers to provide the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

A volunteer sticks an order slip on the 塀で囲む of the kitchen as others pack food for COVID-19 患者s and health 労働者s of Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, a pharmacist and taxi driver have teamed up to 料金d COVID-19 患者s, doctors, nurses and health 労働者s. 予定 to lockdowns, the cafeteri a and nearby cafes have の近くにd, leaving more than 200 スタッフの一員s, 患者s and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and 寄付s and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and 支払う／賃金ing helpers to 供給する the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Pharmacist Bikram Bhadel calculates the number of food orders to deliver to Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, a pharmacist and taxi driver have teamed up to feed COVID-19 patients, doctors, nurses and health workers. Due to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have closed, leaving more than 200 staffers, patients and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and donations and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and paying helpers to provide the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Pharmacist Bikram Bhadel calculates the number of food orders to 配達する to Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, a pharmacist and taxi driver have teamed up to 料金d COVID-19 患者s, doctors, nurses and health 労働者s. 予定 to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have の近くにd, leaving more than 200 スタッフの一員s, 患者s and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and 寄付s and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and 支払う／賃金ing helpers to 供給する the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Pharmacist Bikram Bhadel, right, and his friend Indra Newar, a taxi driver, deliver food at Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, a pharmacist and taxi driver have teamed up to feed COVID-19 patients, doctors, nurses and health workers. Due to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have closed, leaving more than 200 staffers, patients and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and donations and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and paying helpers to provide the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Pharmacist Bikram Bhadel, 権利, and his friend Indra Newar, a taxi driver, 配達する food at Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, a pharmacist and taxi driver have teamed up to 料金d COVID-19 患者s, doctors, nurses and health 労働者s. 予定 to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have の近くにd, leaving more than 200 スタッフの一員s, 患者s and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and 寄付s and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and 支払う／賃金ing helpers to 供給する the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Health workers receive free food packets as pharmacist Bikram Bhadel waits for health workers response at Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, Bhadel and his taxi driver friend have teamed up to feed COVID-19 patients, doctors, nurses and health workers. Due to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have closed, leaving more than 200 staffers, patients and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and donations and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and paying helpers to provide the meals.?(AP Photo/Ni ranjan Shrestha)

Health 労働者s receive 解放する／自由な food packets as pharmacist Bikram Bhadel waits for health 労働者s 返答 at Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, Bhadel and his taxi driver friend have teamed up to 料金d COVID-19 患者s, doctors, nurses and health 労働者s. 予定 to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have の近くにd, leaving more than 200 スタッフの一員s, 患者s and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and 寄付s and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and 支払う／賃金ing helpers to 供給する the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Taxi driver Indra Kumar Newar puts on protective gear before delivering food at Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, A ug. 28, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, Newar and his pharmacist friend have teamed up to feed COVID-19 patients, doctors, nurses and health workers. Due to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have closed, leaving more than 200 staffers, patients and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and donations and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and paying helpers to provide the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Taxi driver Indra Kumar Newar puts on 保護の gear before 配達するing food at Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, Newar and his pharmacist friend have teamed up to 料金d COVID-19 患者s, doctors, nurses and health 労働者s. 予定 to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have の近くにd, leaving more than 200 スタッフの一員s, 患者s and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and 寄付s and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and 支払う／賃金ing helpers to 供給する the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Pharmacist Bikram Bhadel uses his phone as his taxi driver friend Indra Kumar Newar eats his lunch before delivering food at Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, this pharmacist and taxi driver have teamed up to feed COVID-19 patients, doctors, nurses and health workers. Due to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have closed, leaving more than 200 staffers, patients and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and donations and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and paying helpers to provide the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Pharmacist Bikram Bhadel uses his phone as his taxi driver friend Indra Kumar Newar eats his lunch before 配達するing food at Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal , Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, this pharmacist and taxi driver have teamed up to 料金d COVID-19 患者s, doctors, nurses and health 労働者s. 予定 to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have の近くにd, leaving more than 200 スタッフの一員s, 患者s and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and 寄付s and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and 支払う／賃金ing helpers to 供給する the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Taxi driver Indra Kumar Newar places a piece of paper to deliver food to a COVID-19 isolation ward at Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, Newar and his pharmacist friend have teamed up to feed COVID-19 patients, doctors, nurses and health workers. Due to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have closed, leaving more than 200 staffers, patients and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and donations and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and paying helpers to provide the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Taxi driver Indra Kumar Newar places a piece of paper to 配達する food to a COVID-19 孤立／分離 区 at Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, Newar and his pharmacist friend have teamed up to 料金d COVID-19 患者s, doctors, nurses and health 労働者s. 予定 to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have の近くにd, leaving more than 200 スタッフの一員s, 患者s and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and 寄付s and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and 支払う／賃金ing helpers to 供給する the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Taxi driver Indra Kumar Newar carries food to deliver to Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, Newar and his pharmacist friend have teamed up to feed COVID-19 patients, doctors, nurses and health workers. Due to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have closed, leaving more than 200 staffers, patients and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and donations and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and paying helpers to provide the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Taxi driver Indra Kumar Newar carries food to 配達する to Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, Newar and his pharmacist friend have teamed up to 料金d COVID-19 患者s, doctors, nurses and health 労働者s. 予定 to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have の近くにd, leaving more than 200 スタッフの一員s, 患者s and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and 寄付s and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and 支払う／賃金ing helpers to 供給する the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

A nurse collects food for COVID-19 patients and health workers, placed on top of a car at Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, a pharmacist and taxi driver have teamed up to feed COVID-19 patients, doctors, nurses and health workers. Due to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have closed, leaving more than 200 staffers, patients and their f amilies without food. The two friends have taken their own money and donations and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and paying helpers to provide the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

A nurse collects food for COVID-19 患者s and health 労働者s, placed on 最高の，を越す of a car at Teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. At one of the largest hospitals in Nepal, a pharmacist and taxi driver have teamed up to 料金d COVID-19 患者s, doctors, nurses and health 労働者s. 予定 to lockdowns, the cafeteria and nearby cafes have の近くにd, leaving more than 200 スタッフの一員s, 患者s and their families without food. The two friends have taken their own money and 寄付s and put it to use buying groceries, renting a kitchen and 支払う／賃金ing helpers to 供給する the meals.?(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

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