As reports of devastating floods in Nepal and Tibet reached global audiences, Nepali leaders in Chicago swiftly organized a virtual emergency meeting on Wednesday night. These leaders focused on coordinating fundraising efforts for disaster relief. The meeting, hosted over Facebook Messenger, was attended by community leaders from various organizations who, despite differing individual goals, united to send funds to Nepali government disaster accounts.
Thousands of Nepali immigrants reside in Chicago and its suburbs, contributing to the community through nonprofits, restaurants, and businesses. The inaugural Nepali street festival, held in Edgewater on August 15, showcased Nepal’s art, music, and cuisine. Chicago’s Nepali community is now leveraging its unity for impactful action.
Among the attendees was Shriniwas Kabra, vice president of the Nepali American Center. Kabra emphasized the collective intent to collaborate on traditional and online fundraisers, with aspirations to gather material goods for aid. “Everyone agreed that we need to work together, and we need to help in whatever way we can,” he stated.
Nepal and China’s response to the catastrophic floods involved urgent rescue operations. Nearly 600 lives were lost, and around 2,500 individuals are reported missing according to official data. Rescuers on the Nepal-China border were engaged in extracting survivors from muddy debris, using helicopters to evacuate stranded people. Soldiers assisted families disembarking helicopters after being rescued from affected zones.
Flood rescue efforts also included a team entering a severely damaged checkpoint on the Chinese border side. Rescuers remain watchful for potential flooding from a new lake formed by a recent glacier collapse. Videos depict the floodwaters engulfing structures and residents attempting to escape.
Kabra, aged 42, explained waking up on Wednesday to video footage of the floods from a Nepalese friend. Initially mistaken for fictional or AI-generated content, the footage was genuine. The floods’ impact far surpassed the border, disrupting major highways and burdening the economy due to concentrated relief efforts by police and military forces.
Kabra promotes his flower shop, Emotional Bonding, in Niles to aid relief efforts, dedicating all sales for the week of September 6 to flood-affected communities. He collaborates with The Clove Indian and Nepali Cuisine in Glenview, arranging lunch purchases through direct donations to Nepali aid.
A GoFundMe initiative launched by groups present at Wednesday’s meeting raised approximately $600 by Friday evening. Rajan Shahi, leader of Nepalese Aid based in Chicago, advocated for donations via the GoFundMe and the Nepal Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund.
The Tibetan Alliance of Chicago held a vigil in Evanston on Thursday night for flood victims. Community members gathered in blue folding chairs around an altar, praying and chanting Buddhist mantras led by prayer conductor Norbu Samphell. Samphell highlighted the emotional ties felt despite geographic distance, emphasizing Buddhist teachings that advocate happiness for all beings and minimize suffering.
Earlier in August, representatives discussed Nepali culture with Chicagoans at the street festival. Shahi expressed optimism to make it an annual event. “Nepalese people are resilient,” he stated. “We will stand together, support one another, and we will rise again.”
The Associated Press contributed additional details.
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