Quake victims reluctant to live in government-built community residences

Sindhulimadi, August 29

The government’s project of building collective residences for quake-displaced families in Sindhuli has fared very badly, because many victims have refused to use the facility away from their homes and chosen to stay in their village.

A collective residence for house six families was built in the district about two months ago. One collective residence each was built at Kamalamai Municipality-9 of Dhungrebas, Basheshwor VDC-3, Baleni, and Bitijor VDC-2 by Nepali Army.

Authorities intended to accommodate up to 48 households in these structures, eight families in each residence.

But the victims have shown reluctance to move to the facility away from their villages and properties, and have elected to live in their villages, despite great risks. The residence built in Dhungrebas is instead being used as a police post.

An official at the District Disaster Rescue Committee, however, stated that the structures have not been in use because of delay in selecting victims who qualify to stay in the facilities.

Under-secretary at National Reconstruction Authority Bhisma Kumar Bhushal said, “Quake victims in Sindhuli, Ramechhap, Dolakha, and Kavre have shown reluctance to shift to the communal structures. Most families said they cannot abandon their land and move.”