As displaced families languish in Banepa holding centre, children watch the school year pass them by
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Displaced families in Nepal, including children, are languishing in a temporary holding center in Banepa after being evicted from their homes.
- Children are missing the start of the school year, with one nine-year-old expressing distress over her interrupted education and lack of playmates.
- Authorities cleared squatter settlements along riverbanks and public land, leading to thousands of homeless families, while activists criticize the evictions for violating constitutional rights without resettlement plans.
The Kathmandu Post, a leading English-language daily in Nepal, reports with deep concern on the plight of families displaced by recent evictions. Our coverage highlights the immediate and devastating impact on children, whose education has been abruptly halted.
When will we be allowed to go back to school?
The images of young Roshani Niraula and Rohan Pariyar, yearning for school while confined to a temporary center, are heartbreaking. Their voices, captured in our reporting, underscore the human cost of urban development projects that prioritize infrastructure over the fundamental rights and well-being of vulnerable populations.
Will I ever be able to study like I did before?
While the Kathmandu Metropolitan City government cites the need to clear illegal settlements and restore riverbanks, our reporting emphasizes the lack of adequate resettlement plans. This approach, activists argue, violates constitutional guarantees and leaves thousands in precarious situations. The contrast between the bustling school year beginning elsewhere and the stagnant reality for these children is a stark illustration of the inequalities within our society.
Since the day we were forced out of Manohara, I haven't had anyone to play with. The new session has started, but I am just sitting here. Every day I miss more lessons.
From Nepal's perspective, this is not just an issue of land encroachment; it is a crisis of displacement and a failure to uphold basic human dignity. International coverage might focus on the government's development agenda, but we must center the voices of those most affected, demanding accountability and humane solutions.
We are being moved from one place to anotherโfirst Balaju, now Banepa. Being moved around from place to place makes our education feel even more uncertain. Wherever they take us, we shouldn't have to miss out on our schooling.
Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.