One week after the devastating earthquake which destroyed homes and lives in Nepal, Canberra's Nepalese community have come together to share stories, a meal and support each other.
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The estimated death toll from the earthquake has risen above 6000 people with many others unaccounted for, making life difficult for Nepalese people living outside the country.
Nepal Earthquake Relief Coordination Canberra co-ordinator Binod Nepal, who has lived in Canberra for more than 10 years, said he still had a number of relatives in the country including his mother and brother.
"We first heard about it on Facebook and immediately I started to call around, however by then all the phone lines were disrupted," he said.
"It took two to three hours to contact them."
As they try to come to terms with the disaster, about 100 members of Canberra's Nepalese community gathered in Acton Park to support each other and have a barbecue.
"We are bonding together and we are comforting each other," Dr Nepal said.
"Some of our friends have lost their loved ones, we have got to meet them and comfort them.
"Some of our friends have lost their houses, many of our friends have villages that are completely flattened."
Australia-Nepal Friendship Society committee member Punam Panta said some members of the community hadn't slept since it happened.
"We were all frantically calling homes in Kathmandu or outside and we couldn't get through," she said.
"As soon as we heard someone talking we ran across to that person and said 'Check about this area or that area'. It was a very trying time."
Ms Panta said events such as Saturday's barbecue were important to support those who had lost family and friends.
"We too need to talk, we need to understand," she said.
"It's not just people there who are the victims, it's people here.
"There's a lot of guilt here, there's a lot of psychological things going on."
About 500 Canberrans gathered in Garema Place on Friday evening for a candlelight vigil to remember the victims of the earthquake.
Dr Nepal said the support and generosity of his fellow Canberrans following the disaster had been very touching.
"We have support from schools, other community members, hospitals, everyone is so generous here in Canberra," he said. "We are overwhelmed by the support of people."
