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🇳🇵 Nepal /Culture & Society

Meal suspension at holding centers sparks criticism, government resumes food supply

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Hundreds of displaced families in Nepal faced hunger for nearly two days when authorities suspended food and water at holding centers.
  • The government resumed food distribution after public criticism, but residents remain uncertain about future supplies and the promised financial aid for relocation.
  • Affected families, displaced by monsoon floods, struggle with inadequate compensation and the inability to secure housing or education for their children.

Hundreds of displaced families in Nepal faced uncertainty and hunger for nearly two days this week when authorities suspended food and water supplies at seven holding centers across Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Kavrepalanchok. The government only restored food distribution on Tuesday evening after facing widespread public criticism.

They didn't just stop the food. They locked away the water jars and wouldn't even let us have drinking water. People leave water by the roadside as an act of charity. But because we're landless squatters, the government treated us worse than that.

— Kali Maya PariyarDescribing the conditions at the holding center after food and water supplies were suspended.

Kali Maya Pariyar, a resident of the Kharipati holding center in Bhaktapur, described the harsh conditions. "They didn't just stop the food. They locked away the water jars and wouldn't even let us have drinking water," she told Kantipur. "People leave water by the roadside as an act of charity. But because we're landless squatters, the government treated us worse than that."

But we don't know when they'll stop feeding us again.

— Kali Maya PariyarExpressing uncertainty about future food distribution after supplies were restored.

Many families were displaced from informal settlements along the Manohara river due to monsoon demolitions. While the government promised 25,000 Nepalese rupees to each family for temporary accommodation, many have not yet received the funds. Pariyar expressed doubt about the sum's adequacy, stating it would barely cover a month's rent for her eight-member family, let alone help them rebuild their lives. "There are eight of us. What can 25,000 rupees possibly do?" she questioned. "That amount will disappear just paying rent. We have to start from nothing."

There are eight of us. What can 25,000 rupees possibly do? That amount will disappear just paying rent. We have to start from nothing.

— Kali Maya PariyarQuestioning the adequacy of the government's financial aid for displaced families.

The situation has also impacted education, with Pariyar's grandchildren forced out of school due to outstanding fees and the inability to enroll them elsewhere. The demolition during the monsoon season added to the family's distress. "If they had to demolish our homes, they could at least have investigated properly before doing it," Pariyar lamented. "Even insects look for shelter during the rainy season. Yet this is what happened to us."

If they had to demolish our homes, they could at least have investigated properly before doing it. Even insects look for shelter during the rainy season. Yet this is what happened to us.

— Kali Maya PariyarLamenting the demolition of her home during the monsoon season.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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