Monsoon Adds Woes

Around seven months have passed since a 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit Jajarkot, Rukum West and nearby districts, destroying many houses and causing numerous fatalities. With the monsoon season now wreaking havoc across the country, around 14,000 Jajarkot earthquake victims are still living under torn tarpaulins and leaking corrugated zinc sheets. The earthquake survivors faced a harsh winter without adequate shelter and warm clothing, and now they are grappling with new challenges posed by the rainy season. 

The government has announced to provide Rs. 50,000 grant in two installments for construction of temporary shelters in earthquake-affected districts. However, the lengthy bureaucratic process has left many quake victims struggling and waiting for a long time to receive the second installment of the fund needed for their temporary housing construction. Out of 85,690 beneficiaries, 71,378 of five quake-affected districts have constructed their temporary shelters, and almost 14,000 families are yet to construct their temporary shelters. 

Assistance and support both from the government and non-governmental organisations are essential for the earthquake-affected residents of Jajarkot and Rukum West to rebuild their houses, but it is concerning to hear that still 14,000 quake victims are languishing in tents and tarpaulins and have not been able to build a roof over their heads. Due to severe weather conditions, numerous earthquake survivors opted to inhabit their damaged, unfit homes during the harsh winter. Remote Jajarkot and Rukum West areas are lacking education, health care, transportation and infrastructure. 

The quake victims are now further burdened to take shelters in makeshift structures to keep themselves safe from monsoon rains. Rains often come in calamitous proportion which creates a nightmare for the quake survivors. Therefore, the government should take urgent measures to ensure their safety. As per the temporary housing construction grant procedure for earthquake affected households, a displaced family whose house is completely or partially damaged and has become uninhabitable will receive Rs. 50,000 each in two evenly divided installments. 

Similarly, from the total required budget of Rs. 4.075 billion for temporary housing construction, the federal government has transferred Rs. 3.16 billion to the District Disaster Management Committee's account through the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Authority (NDRRMA). Having a reliable roof over one's head is the basic need of every citizen and the government should ensure this basic right of the citizens. As the Jajarkot earthquake victims are still awaiting proper housing, the looming monsoon season threatens further insecurity and trouble from possible floods and landslides. A sorry and critical situation emerges due mainly to the absence of adequate preparedness to deal with the monsoon menace.  

The earthquake jolted districts are even more susceptible to rain-induced disasters.  Amid intensifying rainfalls, the already cracked and rundown houses in which the victims are taking refuge are more fragile during monsoon. The quake victims are vulnerable to waterborne diseases if they do not have access to safe drinking water. The authorities concerned need to take this issue seriously and work to make sure the victims can see the timely completion of their houses. For this, timely disbursement of the grants is essential, which seems not to be happening. Appropriate steps need to be taken before lives come under danger.