Kalikot flood victims receive relief after 67 days

By Prem Raj Simkhada,Kalikot, Dec. 27: Amma Shahi, a resident of Ward No. 5 of Palata Rural Municipality, in Kalikot district, has received a food assistance for the first time since a flood destroyed her house 67 days ago. 

After more than two months, Shahi received 30-kg rice, two-kg lentils, two-kg salt and two-litre cooking oil, along with a blanket.However, Shahi was still happy to receive the support after walking for five hours to reach Raduneta area. 

According to Shahi, the relief would be used to feed a family of seven, including four children.“Even if it is late, I received some support. I think the food items will be enough for the next 15 days. However, I will try to use it for 20 days,” said Shahi.

In addition, Binita Neupane, a resident of Ward No. 1 of Palata, was also happy after receiving the succour.“Though I am grateful for the assistance, I feel sad that we had to wait for the organisations to come to our aid while the local level remains indifferent to our plight. We don’t feel the presence of a local government,” said Neupane.

The recent relief was provided by Karnali Integrated Rural Development and Research Centre (KIRDARC) with support of Mission East. 

The organisation had spent Rs. 1.1 million to buy and transport the relief assistance to Palata. Each of the 200 flood-affected families from all nine wards of the local level were provided with 30-kg rice, two-kg lentil, a packet of salt and cooking oil, and a blanket.

“The relief was provided on the basis of a field report prepared by local police after the flooding incidents,” said Padam Kathayat, KIRDARC’s Palata Cluster chief. The organisation also sought help from details prepared by the local level and Kalikot’s disaster management committee before handing over the relief assistance.

The victims of wards 1-6 were handed over with relief at Raduneta in Ward No. 2, while the remaining victims got it at Thirpu in Ward No. 9.

“We have been coordinating with locals of the region to raise awareness on floods and landslides among other natural disasters. However, the floods during the end of monsoon took us by surprise,” said Anita Neupane, coordinator of Mission East’s disaster prevention division. The local government officials, who were present at the relief handover programme, thanked the organisations for their help.

The KIRDARC and Mission East have been jointly working on disaster sector in Palata for the past 16 years.