Trilochan Sapkota from the Non-Resident Nepali Association of NT on how the local community is faring

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Due to our tech errors, we are going to head
straight to our next interview. You're listening to Mix 1049. And, well,
a bit of a change of pace. We know that
the Northern Territories Nepalese community has gathered in grief as
the devastating disaster continues to unfold in Nepal. Candlelit vigils

(00:21):
were held in Darwin and Alice Springs on Sunday. with
hundreds turning out to support those waiting for news of
family and friends. The disaster was triggered by flooding and
a landslide following the melting of a glacier. Now joining
us on the show to speak more about the situation,
a non-resident of the Nepali Association of the Northern Territory,

(00:44):
Trilokan Sapkata. Good morning to you. Oh, we're just having
a bit of an issue there with the phone line.
Hopefully I've got you. Good morning to you, Trailer Chan.

Speaker 2 (00:56):
Yeah, good morning.

Speaker 1 (00:57):
Yeah, that's right. Thank you so much for your time
this morning. I do apologise for that tech issue. Now
tell me, I know there's been an enormous outpouring of
grief from the Nepalese community here in the Northern Territory.
What has the past few days been like for you
and the community?

Speaker 2 (01:17):
So we are deeply saddened by the devastating floods in Nepal,
which have caused loss of life and left people missing
and affected many families. Almost 1.6 million people are affected
from that flash flood and 987 bodies are recovered and

(01:39):
still 4,000 people are still missing. It's very horrible. It's
very horrible.

Speaker 1 (01:47):
I can't even begin to imagine the sadness and the heartbreak,
the utter heartbreak that you must all be feeling, you know,
being all the way here in the Northern Territory, but
your heart still being in Nepal. That's right.

Speaker 2 (02:02):
That's right. Nepal is our country of birth, and though
we are thousands of kilometres away, our hearts are still there.
Our friends and families are still suffering from that flood.
and our community members' families are also affected by that incident.

Speaker 1 (02:21):
Have there been community members here in the Northern Territory
who are still waiting to hear from their family or
their friends?

Speaker 2 (02:28):
That's right, yeah. There's like three families affected, and they
are already back home, and they are still waiting for
their families to come, and they are just living there.

Speaker 1 (02:41):
I know that vigils were held in both Darwin and
Dallas Springs on Sunday. What did that mean to see
so many Territorians come out and stand alongside the Nepalese community?

Speaker 2 (02:53):
So that vigil meant a lot for us. A lot
of multicultural people are joining hands with us. That's a
perfect example of the humanity. That's when people suffer, then
everyone gets hurt. And that vigil is just for wishing
for those who are lost, get found as soon as

(03:16):
possible and get in touch with their loved ones. May
every departed soul rest in eternal peace. And may the
grieving families find their strength and courage and may all
affected communities find their strength to recover, rebuild and re-heal.
That's all about the candlelight vigil is. Every flame light

(03:39):
on that day is for the pray for the people
who are already lost their lives and pray for those
who are still waiting for their families to come back.

Speaker 1 (03:53):
I mean, I think it goes without saying that everybody
in the Northern Territory is praying for everybody that's impacted
at this point in time. It's utterly heartbreaking. For Territorians
who may want to help, is there anything that they
can do to support the Nepalese community and the recovery effort?

Speaker 2 (04:13):
So Nepalese government has officially announced their link for Prime
Minister Relay Fund. So the people around the world can
use that QR code if they like to donate directly
to the Prime Minister Relay Fund. And also non-resident Nepalese

(04:34):
Association Australia has organized the GoFundMe campaign. And people, those
who like to collectively donate to NRNA fund, people can
donate to NRNA Australia GoFundMe account. And that money is donating,
like sending back to Prime Minister Relief Fund directly. And

(04:55):
the last time we donated around 44,000 and remaining, I think,
that another lot could be a similar amount we're going
to donate to the Prime Minister Relief Fund again.

Speaker 1 (05:09):
Yeah, and no doubt that every dollar raised is going
to be absolutely needed to support families, to support everybody
at this point in time over there battling through this disaster.

Speaker 2 (05:23):
That's right. We hope so. Yeah. We appreciate that Prime
Minister Relief Fund is going to release the funds as
soon as possible to get those who are in need.

Speaker 1 (05:33):
Well, Traila Chan, I really appreciate you having a chat
with us this morning. I thank you so very much
for your time and certainly my thoughts and prayers are
with you and the whole community here in the Northern
Territory that's been impacted.

Speaker 2 (05:48):
Thank you, Katie, for having me in this morning. Thank
you very much for your thoughts and words.

Speaker 1 (05:53):
Thank you. I appreciate your time.