Oxfordshire Nepalese Community rallies to support victims of devastating floods
The group has set up a fundraiser to help provide emergency relief for people in Nepal
Members of the Oxfordshire Nepalese Community have spoken of their heartbreak as the death toll from flooding in Nepal continues to rise.
More than 1,200 people have been confirmed dead and at least 4,200 are missing following the disaster, according to the latest reports.
The flash floods struck Nepal on August 26, sweeping through areas in the north of the country and destroying homes, roads, bridges and other infrastructure.
Deepa Thapa, chair of the Oxfordshire Nepalese Community, has lived in the UK since 2007 and also works for Oxfam.
She said: “The scale of the flood is just unimaginable.
“So many lives have been lost because of the scale and the way it came. They had nowhere to actually escape.”
Although her close relatives are safe, Ms Thapa said locals have connections to people caught up in the disaster.
She said the brother of a friend living in Oxford, who worked in hydropower, was missing.
“Behind all the news and the numbers, there are people who have been affected,” she said.
“As a community, whether or not our own close family members are affected, we’re here to help.”
The Nepalese Community Oxfordshire has joined forces with charity Help for Nepal to raise emergency funds, with more than £8,000 already donated.
Tulasi Paudel, a former chair of the community and member of Help for Nepal, said watching events unfold from the UK had been “devastating”.
“Even though we’re not there and we’re miles away from Nepal, it’s really painful,” he said.
He said the group began its fundraising campaign quickly after learning of the scale of the disaster.
The money raised is expected to be sent to Nepal’s Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund to help provide essential assistance in the areas of greatest need.
Mr Paudel said this could include food, clothing, shelter, medication, sanitation and drinking water.
“Every single pound will be a huge support to the people in Nepal,” he said. “I'm still hoping that the figure will go up.”
Members gathered for a vigil on Monday, where people from both the Nepalese and wider Oxfordshire communities lit candles for everyone who has been impacted.
“There was a really good opportunity to remember those who lost their lives and pray for them and for those affected and injured in hospital,” Mr Paudel said.
Prem Kandel, vice-chair of the Oxfordshire Nepalese Community, added that the images and videos of the destruction had been frightening.
“It’s heartbreaking when we see all these people’s lives and livelihoods destroyed from that flood," he said. “It was very, very scary.”
However, Mr Kandel said people visiting his Nepalese restaurant have shown kindness by donating money, sending messages and contacting him to ask whether his family and friends were safe.
“We are very grateful for the support we’re getting from those customers,” he said.
For the community, fundraising is one way of helping from thousands of miles away.
Ms Thapa said: “When you you see your own people in pain in such a situation, obviously we are far away, but at least what we can do is try to remember them and try to help whatever we can.”