Achham, August 1:

We have been surviving by eating fruits found in jungles.

Reeling under an acute shortage of foodstuff, people of eastern Achham have begun losing

patience.

Two weeks ago, the District Food Management Committee had pledged to supply rice to people of 24 VDCs of eastern Achham through helicopters. But the committee has failed to keep its promise. People from 24 VDCs of the Bhaiswa have been affected severely by the food crisis.

“I don’t know how will I be able to survive. We have nothing to eat,” Gote Buda of Dhakari-7 said, adding, “I have heard that rice will be supplied to us through helicopters, but I don’t think authorities are interested in doing that.” Prem Kami of Mastawandali said rice would be of no use if it were supplied after people died.

DFMC had decided to supply rice to Binayak, Kamal Bazaar and Dhakari in the Bhaiswa area

of Achham district through helicopters.

“We have been surviving by eating fruits found in jungles,” Prati Bhul of Basti-6 said.

Chief District Officer Gyanraj Koirala said he had apprised ministries concerned and political leaders of the food crisis in eastern Achham. He said the food crisis had happened because Nepal Food Corporation’s depots in Dhakari, Kamal Bazaar and Binayak had not been re-established.

Meanwhile, the Mangalsen-based NFC district office stopped distribution of rice till Sunday.

“We decided to stop rice distribution until Sunday because we are running out of stock. If food supply does not resume, we have no alternative but to close down the office,” Ramesh Singh, acting chief of the NFC district office, said.