After Huge Quake, Lansdale Woman Working on Relief Efforts For Her Native Nepal
By Kristen Johanson
LANSDALE, Pa. (CBS) -- As rescue efforts continue in Nepal after a devastating earthquake that has left more than 4,000 people dead and thousands more injured, one local woman from Nepal is working to get aid overseas.
Bandita Sharma-Dahal works as an immigration and nationality lawyer in Lansdale, Pa., and sits on the board of directors of the Nepal Foundation. She says her heart is breaking for her home country but is relieved to know her own family is safe.
"The last two nights they spent in a tent outside, and Sunday was raining so they just spent it on the porch," she told KYW Newsradio this morning.
To get through this difficult time, she has turned her focus to the fundraising efforts. Sharma-Dahal says the Nepalese people are desperate.
"Things that they need are clean water, sanitation stuff, some blankets and things like that," she notes, "but then Nepal needs a whole long-term plan on how to rebuild the country again."
She is hoping to get her family to the United States within the next month.
Sharma-Dahal was also working on a fundraiser to be held Thursday and Friday, to raise money for aid in Nepal. Details were pending.