What follows the unplanned demolition?

The Kathmandu Post reports on the severe human rights implications of recent demolitions targeting riverside squatters in the Kathmandu Valley. While framed as a necessary measure to reclaim public land and protect against floods, the government's approach, led by Balendra Shah, has resulted in the immediate homelessness of thousands.

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As the Balendra Shah-led government bypassed the due process of resettlement and rehabilitation, thousands of families became homeless overnight.

The article details the devastating impact on vulnerable populations: the sick, elderly, children, and pregnant women lost their homes, belongings, and sense of security. The lack of due process in resettlement and rehabilitation has intensified the trauma for families who have long endured precarious living conditions. Reports of suicide due to hopelessness underscore the gravity of the situation.

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In a matter of hours, the sick and elderly people had no roof to shelter under; children lost their books in the rubble and mourned the loss of their long-time friends and the schools; pregnant women were hit hard; and countless animals that relied on these settlements were abandoned.

This eviction drive highlights a persistent crisis in Nepal, where over 1.2 million people lack adequate housing despite constitutional guarantees. The current approach, which prioritizes demolition over planned resettlement, raises critical questions about the government's commitment to social protection and human rights. The article implies that such actions, without providing viable long-term solutions, only deepen the suffering of the landless and marginalized.

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Two people reportedly died by suicide as they felt hopeless seeing their houses being demolished.