Blocked roads delay relief for Rolpa landslide victims

Relief supplies for victims of a deadly landslide in Rolpa, Nepal, remain stranded a week after the disaster, with blocked roads preventing essential aid from reaching the affected village. The landslide, which killed 13 people and destroyed 11 houses, has left many families displaced and in urgent need of assistance.

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Not all the relief supplies sent to the victims have reached here. There are blockages at many points along the road, so vehicles cannot operate. A large amount of relief material is piled up along the route.

Landslides have rendered the roads to Kotalbara impassable at dozens of points, halting the delivery of food, clothing, and other vital items collected by various organizations. Local representatives report that around 200 porters would be needed to carry the supplies from staging areas like Mabang, Pobang, and Phuliban to the village.

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We need around 200 porters to bring the supplies piled up at Mabang, Pobang and Phuliban. It is difficult to find that many porters. The materials are urgently needed, but we are worried about how to bring them here.

Buddhi Gharti Magar, the ward chairman of Thabang-5, expressed concern over the situation, stating that while immediate needs are being met by local resources and relatives, the stranded materials are crucial. He highlighted the difficulty in securing enough porters and the associated costs, underscoring the urgent need for a solution to transport the aid. Additionally, local representatives have raised concerns about a lack of coordination in relief efforts, with the ward office often not being informed in advance about incoming donations. A relief collection and support committee has been formed to improve coordination.

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We have managed the victims’ immediate needs using the relief materials brought here and some supplies borrowed from residents. But we have not been able to bring the materials stranded along the way.