Members of Philadelphia’s Nepalese-American community are organizing fundraisers and donation drives after catastrophic flooding in Nepal killed more than 500 people this week, with nearly 2,000 still unaccounted for.
The flooding was likely caused by a collapsed glacier at the Himalayan border between Nepal and China, FOX 29 reported.
Gigi Giri, who owns Nepali Momo Kitchen and Mount Masala in Philadelphia with her husband, Bharat, said the disaster hit close to home.
“It’s Nepal, it’s where I come from, and obviously that’s my home country and family, so it was really sad, of course, seeing all those videos. I couldn’t sleep.”
The couple is hosting fundraisers at both restaurants to benefit relief efforts. Giri is one of many in the local Nepalese-American community still awaiting answers on those missing.
“A single penny, or anything, will be really helpful. It does matter. Any help, just praying for our community would be a great help at this moment, too.”
At Temple University, PhD student Pralad Phuyal is working with the Nepali Student Association and nearby universities, including the University of Pennsylvania, to hold a vigil and donation drive at Clark Park.
“Those kinds of floods and damages and lives that are gone and missing persons, it feels very sad since we are abroad and can’t do much. We can donate and raise awareness about what to do after the flood.”