NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)— Just weeks after a devastating earthquake brought Nepal to its knees, another massive magnitude 7.3 quakes strikes the nation. 50 people have perished and that number could rise. It’s a story halfway around the world but for Nepalese students at the University of New Orleans, their hearts are breaking.
“Emotionally people are very traumatized because we thought we were over it and we were just to have aftershocks but this other earthquake has increased the fear among people,” says UNO student Cynthiya Shrestha.
“All of us, we were stuck to our phones trying to call back home. None of us could get to our families. It took us 3 hours to know they were okay,” says UNO student Pratik Pouydal.
This group of Nepalese students at UNO have been leaning on each other the last few weeks, dealing with devastating news while trying to finish out the school year.
“The first quake went before our finals. This one was right after it. So our mindset is up and down up and down,” says UNO student Ashiaya Upadhyaya.
While cramming for finals, the Nepalese Student Association at UNO held several fundraisers, raising nearly $8,000 to help victims in Nepal. Meanwhile, the local American Red Cross has also been raising tens of thousands of dollars for relief efforts.
“There is dire need for more donations, more supplies, the people in Nepal are in desperate need for our help,” says Christine Briede with the American Red Cross.
Helpless, is how some of the Nepalese students feel, being so far away from their loved ones. Ashiaya Upadhyaya is leaving for Nepal Thursday.
“My family was just recovering. They were on the verge of being okay, this happened, we survived, we’ll build Nepal again. And that happens again. They’re completely distraught,” says Upadhyaya.
UNO says it has a storng Nepalese presence within its student body. There are currently 50 enrolled at UNO and nearly 400 have come through the University over the years.
If you would like to donate to help the victims of the Nepal quake through the Nepalese Student Association, click here.
If you would like to help through The American Red Cross, click here.