JAJARKOT: Despite assurances from the district disaster management committee that relief materials have been dispatched to genuine earthquake victims in Jajarkot, a ground-level reality check reveals a dire situation.
Many victims are lamenting the lack of aid, exacerbating their plight as they endure harsh winter conditions while exposed to the elements.
The recent onset of rainfall compounds the issue, risking the collapse of already damaged houses from the quake.
Residents, such as Ram Prasad Khatri from Nalgad Municipality-8, report the emergence of cold-related diseases like fever and typhoid among those left without proper shelter.
In Dhaulakot of Barekot Rural Municipality-1, local Hari Bahadur Thapa voices frustration, stating, “We have not received relief materials despite repeated pleas to the rural municipality. Dhaulakot is adjacent to Ramidanda, the epicenter of the 6.4 magnitude earthquake.”
Bir Bahadur Giri, the chairperson of Barekot Rural Municipality, defends the uneven distribution of aid, citing a shortage. He discloses that Barekot still requires 1,700 tarpaulins.
Meanwhile, Nalgad Municipality’s victims in areas 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 await assistance, with Nalgad-8 being the most densely populated and severely affected region.
Local Bhim Bahadur Khatri points out that voluntary organizations have distributed relief materials but criticizes the lack of effective monitoring and inspection, leading to inefficiencies and disparities.
Jaya Bahadur Khatri, the secretary of the Batase Cheuri Barma Forest Community Institution, notes that almost all houses in Nalgad-8 have been damaged, rendering them unfit for habitation.
The recent rainfall has compounded the crisis, causing stones to fall from the already precarious structures.
Further allegations come from Ramkali Thapa of Bheri Municipality-3, who claims that relief materials were distributed unevenly, with some receiving aid multiple times while others await assistance.
Compounding the issue, victims who have rented rooms in Khalanga are left without relief, as only landlords were registered for aid, leaving tenants like Mal Bahadur Singh from Barekot Rural Municipality-4 in Khalanga feeling neglected and without support.
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