Kathmandu, December 4:

The next-of-kin of the disappeared have been battling acute mental trauma.

The Maoist-led government’s Rs 1 lakh compensation package simply cannot tide over their emotional crisis.

“Nobody is around to comfort me,” said Devendra Raj Dhakal, who has been waiting anxiously to know the fate of his brother Dirgha Raj, who went missing in 2005.

Human rights activists have been clamouring for counselling facilities for conflict victims, particularly the families of the disappeared, for long.

“The government should open counselling offices at central and local levels. The victims’ families are going through a harrowing time,” said Gauri Pradhan, member, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

Mary Werntz, head, ICRC, an international humanitarian aid agency, had a word of advice.

“It’s important to tell the truth. If somebody dies in an accident, the family is aware of the grim reality. It helps them to move despite the overpowering pain. But when somebody disappears, the family likes to believe that the person is still alive,” reasoned Werntz.

Experts advocated counselling and reconciliation since in some cases both the perpetrators and victims’ families happen to live in close proximity.

Pradhan suggested that the government should train local teachers and nurses to impart counselling to conflict victims.

Government officials, however, have a different take on this critical social issue.

“Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) is supposed to be engaged in counselling. Hence, we don’t require an additional mechanism at both central and local levels. Unfortunately, the TRC is yet to be formed.

The NGOs and INGOs are also responsible for providing emotional succour to conflict victims,” said Madhu Regmi, joint secretary, Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction.

According to a NHRC study, the latest figure for cases of enforced disappearance is pegged at 970. But an ICRC field study claims that 1,200 people are still missing.

“The figure is likely to go up since the collation of date hasn’t been completed. This includes both missing and cases of enforced disappearance,” added Werntz.