(Vatsana Chanthala is chairwoman of Asian Pacific American Society (APAS) in New Orleans.)

No one could foresee the devastation Hurricane Katrina would cause on August 2005. She flooded 80% of New Orleans leaving many residents stranded without food or water. Two years later, there is little improvement. New Orleans East Versailles area was hailed by the city and the media as one of the first places to come back strong in terms of the repopulation of that community and rebuilding of homes.

Unfortunately, being open for business has its price. The New Orleans East Versailles area is made up of mostly Vietnamese residents and some African Americans, Laotians and Thais. The most recent issue faced by this community is the rise in crime. Three weeks ago, a Vietnamese couple was murdered in their sleep during a home invasion. One week later, seven people were robbed and shot in their home. One Lao woman and another Thai man were killed and five others were critically injured.

The Lao woman’s husband survived the ordeal and is recovering, but he requires regular check-ups for his injuries. Another Lao victim, who survived the shooting, is in a vegetative state in which he can respond to pain, but is unable to hold a conversation or interact with anyone. He is scheduled for surgery to remove some fragments in his brain and right eye caused by the bullet.

Please help APAS in our effort to assist these individuals by donating to the APAS Disaster Relief Fund. The money raised will be used to help pay for the victims’ funeral or other related expenses that stemmed from the tragedy.

Please make contribution checks to: APAS
Send to:  3500 N. Causeway Blvd. Suite 1548
Metairie, LA 70002

Please feel free to contact Vatsana Chantala at cvatsana@yahoo.com with further questions or concerns.

APAS is a non-profit 501 c(3) organization that provides services and leadership in cultural, social and economic areas targeting the Asian community. Through multiple activities and projects, APAS also seeks to preserve the traditions and practices that make this community vibrant for future generations.