Photo: PRABIN RANABHAT / AFP / Getty Images
(Des Moines, IA) -- Members of Iowa's Nepalese community are rallying to help after catastrophic flooding claimed hundreds of lives in Nepal and left many others missing. Recent reports show the death toll has climbed above 570 as rescue and recovery efforts continue.
Aabriti Pandey with the Iowa Nepalese Association says the disaster hit close to home for many Nepalese families living in Iowa.
"It was devastating to see what happened. Iowa may be far from Nepal, but in our hearts we are very close to Nepal. As soon as I saw the news, I started calling my parents, family members and relatives to make sure they were safe," Pandey said.
The Iowa Nepalese Association is now collecting donations to support those affected by the flooding. The organization says it will follow the Nepalese government's "One Door Policy," sending donations directly to the Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund.
Pandey says making sure donations reach victims is a top priority.
"One message I have is to be vigilant and make sure you're donating to the right organization. Sometimes funds are collected, but they don't necessarily reach the victims. That's why we've decided to follow the policy our government has established back home," Pandey said.
For many in Iowa's Nepalese community, the effort is a way to support their community back home during a time of crisis.