Help on the way for immigrant communities left behind in pandemic

CHARLOTTE — Immigrant communities have been some of the hardest hit by the pandemic, and many have a difficult decision to make between fear of getting the coronavirus and losing their jobs.

“We have a very connected culture,” said Kamal Dhmal, a leader in the Nepali community in Charlotte. “We have the habit of visiting each other, get together to talk.”

There is hope for those communities on the horizon.

Dhmal immigrated from Nepal in 2010 and said his community’s biggest fear is COVID-19.

“They are scared,” he said. “They are afraid, because we see the news every day. Many thousands or hundreds of people, they are dying.”

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Dhmal estimates there have been 200 cases affecting at least 80 families in the Nepali community

Immigrant leaders said those communities have been hit hard by the virus.

“We are very concerned because the immigrant community has been left behind,” said Johnelle Causwell, who leads International House, a nonprofit that helps the immigrant community.

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She said immigrants have been left behind for health care, testing access and now the necessary means to get a vaccine.

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Sometimes breadwinners are forced to make decisions that are not in the best interest of public health.

“The majority of the immigrant community are on the lower end of the socioeconomic ladder,” Causwell said.

Dhmal said, “If the entire family is going to die inside the home without getting food because of hunger, then it’s better to fight the COVID and go to work and bring the money.”

Causwell said the hospitals, health department and county leaders are within days of an outreach program for immigrants, with information to be printed in different languages.

Medical experts have said the virus won’t be defeated unless everyone gets help.

Causwell said everyone is part of the community and what affects one affects all.

Causwell said the lack of help is not the fault of any one person.

She believes it’s structural that the system is designed to favor those with money versus those who don’t.

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Cox Media Group