Bhote Koshi Flood Victims: Holding Centers Emptied After Government Announces Rental Assistance
Displaced by the Bhote Koshi flood and living in holding centers in Nuwakot, victims have started moving to temporary accommodations after the government announced rental and relief assistance. As of Thursday, the number of holding centers has dropped to 16, with 832 people still residing in them.
Kathmandu. Victims displaced by the Bhote Koshi flood and living in holding centers have gradually started leaving the centers and focusing on temporary accommodation.
After the devastating flood on Bhadra 10 (August 26) displaced residents of four local levels in the district, holding centers were set up in various locations in Nuwakot to keep them safe. With the government's campaign to shorten stays in holding centers and encourage victims to rent rooms temporarily, they have started moving to temporary housing.
Immediately after the flood, the government prioritized rescue and moving people to safe locations. Subsequently, emphasis was placed on search and rescue, relief, and managing holding centers to keep victims safe.
According to the District Administration Office Nuwakot, holding centers were established in 12 locations in the district on Bhadra 12 (August 28), and 1,290 victims were placed in eight of them. By Bhadra 22 (September 7), the number of holding centers and residents peaked. On that day, the number of centers reached 28, and the number of victims staying there reached 2,637.
In recent times, however, the number of victims staying in holding centers has been gradually decreasing. As of Thursday, the number of holding centers in the district has dropped to 16. The number of residents there is 832, according to Chief District Officer Shambhu Prasad Regmi.
According to him, victims have started leaving the holding centers and arranging temporary accommodation. Those rescued via helicopters and other means immediately after the flood were provided with food and shelter. The search for missing relatives continues. As missing persons have not been found, people have also started going for last rites. With this process, the number has been gradually decreasing, said CDO Regmi.
Stating that staying in holding centers for a long time would be more uncomfortable for victims, Bidur Municipality has announced a relief program urging victims to rent rooms. Bidur Municipality, which has the highest number of victims in the district, has decided to provide NPR 10,000 monthly for room rent and provide necessary supplies as relief.
According to Mayor Rajan Shrestha of Bidur Municipality, after the municipal executive's decision to provide food, utensils, sanitation materials, and other essential items to victims who leave holding centers to stay in rooms, the number of people moving to rooms has increased.
"Flood victims have started renting rooms. The number of people coming to receive the package program announced by the municipality is increasing," said Mayor Shrestha. "The federal government has also announced a minimum of NPR 15,000 per family per month, so to avoid duplication, the amount for rent is yet to be provided."
Governments at all three levels have announced various facilities, including rent money, to facilitate emptying the shelters set up to house victims rescued from flood risks. With government announcements, victims have also started leaving holding centers and arranging temporary accommodation. To facilitate victims, the government has adopted a strategy according to their wishes. Preparations are underway to build temporary structures for victims who cannot find suitable rooms or cannot stay in rooms.
The Dhading Integrated Urban and Building Construction Project has collected information about the needs of those displaced from flood-affected areas and living in holding centers through questionnaires. Preparations are being made to build temporary housing for families who do not want to or cannot rent rooms.
According to Project Chief Shashendra Ghimire, questionnaires have been filled out with details from 2,027 families living in holding centers in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Chitwan. Of them, about 31 percent said they want to stay in temporary housing built by the government. After the Bhote Koshi flood, most of those displaced in search of safe locations are living in Nuwakot. They have been saying that since they do not have safe land in their own names, it would be easier for them to live if the government builds temporary structures.