Sunsari, August 19

Thousands of people displaced in recent inundation triggered by heavy rainfall a week ago are struggling for their survival due to delay in distribution of government relief in Sunsari.

People from Inaruwa, Bhokraha, Jalpapur, Chimadi, among places, in Sunsari were rendered homeless by the inundation. The victims are now taking shelter in nearby school buildings and their relatives’ houses. As many as 12 persons were killed while 3,000 families became homeless in recent floods and subsequent inundation in the district.

Those families who have lost their family members and those who have been displaced in the natural disaster are in desperate need of relief materials.

Most parts of the district were affected by the inundation and floods that have left hundreds of families without any means of livelihood as their fields with vegetables, paddy and other crops across hundreds of bighas of land have been submerged in floodwaters.

Though the government has decided to distribute Rs 1 billion through the Prime Ministers’ s Disaster Relief Fund to flood victims, they are yet to get government relief.

As the relief fund is yet to arrive from the Ministry of Finance, elected representatives of local levels are finding it difficult to tackle the situation.

Inaruwa Municipality ward 10 chair Mahamat Sultan Miya said they have been struggling to deal with the outbreak of epidemic diseases and manage flood victims for want of fund in the district. The District Administration Office, Sunsari has formed a team under Assistant Chief District Officer Monuka Neupane to expedite rescue and relief work in the district. Performance of the team has, however, been ineffective. Team coordinator Neupane said his team had been facing a tough time in carrying out rescue and relief work give the massive number of flood victims.

A team of Sunsari Chapter of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry informed that various organisations and associations distributed noodles and biscuits to flood victims. It however, said flood victims have not yet received necessary items such as tents, gas stoves, and utensils.