Govt neglects far-west flood victims

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, October 13

The government is yet to provide relief to the thousands of people affected by the recent flood in the far western districts of the country. A group of victims are now in the capital to knock the government doors for the relief.

The people from far-western development region are miserably suffering from the recent flood damages at a time when the International Disaster Reduction Day is being observed on October 14.

Among them, she is Dhan Sara Sunar, 34, from Vajini VDC-9 in Kailali district. There are six members in her family. Walls of her house were crumbled in the flood, her paddy field was filled with three feet of sand and clothes of her family were swept by the swelling river.

Thousands of people are affected from the flood, scores died and many more are living without food, said Sunar. “However, the government has not supported us with anything,” she said. “Three died and one is disappearing in the flood at my village alone.”

Many lost their homes and all the crops were destroyed in the flood in far western region, Sunar said. “People remained without having food for three days until the Red Cross distributed beaten rice and instant noodle three days ago,” she said.

Two packets of beaten rice and four packets of instant noodles were given to each family. “It was not sufficient for them who are living in hunger,”

“We will submit our demands to the government and President tomorrow,” said Sunar.

The government report says that about the property worth Rs 1.208 billion is destroyed every year due to the natural calamity while more than 1,000 people die each year.

Prof Dr Jiba Raj Pokharel, disaster expert, said that the government was unable to address the disaster affected people in a reasonable manner. “Thousands of people from western part of Nepal have been badly affected by the floods that occurred recently,” said Pokharel.

The government lacks a clear policy and strategy to mitigate the damage caused by the natural disasters, said Pokharel. “The law and policies, which exist, are not enough to address the problems of the people.”

“We have prepared a declaration on the disaster reduction strategies, which will be made public tomorrow on the occasion of ISDR Day” said Ramchandra Neupane, chief of the ECO-Nepal. “The government should include it in its policies.”

A study reveals that about 97 per cent of people in Nepal are prone to any of the natural disasters. About 565 people die of outbreak and 40-80 of cold-wave annually.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the government has today approved the national strategy on disaster management to address the issues related to the natural calamity, its damages and relief to the affected people.