When Shaurya Joshi heard about the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal Saturday, his first thoughts were of his mom and relatives living in the nation’s capital Katmandu.
He immediately tried calling his mother, but couldn’t get through. Again and again. Finally, about 12 hours following the quake, Joshi heard his mother’s voice on the other end of the call. Their neighborhood was destroyed, but his mother, his aunts, and other relatives were okay.
“I was trying to stay calm,” said Joshi, a graduate Ph.D. student in biomedical science at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine. “When I heard their voices – when I finally got through – that was the biggest relief to me.”
The shock and horror of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake continues to unfold as the death toll mounts, and survivors await relief efforts and endure frightening aftershocks. Joshi’s family is living in tents in open fields away from still-crumbling buildings.
As of Monday morning, more than 3,800 people had died.
Joshi said he knows four other students at the Miller School who are from Nepal, or have family living there. So far, everyone seems to be safe.
Joshi and his friends are appealing to the UM Community to support relief efforts underway to help the people of Nepal, who are suffering greatly because of the catastrophe. He’s been compiling contact information for the Red Cross and other international relief agencies to share with others.
“The University community is very generous,” Joshi said. “We’re just hoping to get this message across so people can be more aware about this.”
This following CNN article has information on relief efforts and agencies.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/25/world/nepal-earthquake-how-to-help/index.html
This New York Times article has information on agencies.
This Miami Herald article has information on a number of relief agencies.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article19703112.html
