Dashain joy missing among flood survivors of Miklajung struggling for basic needs

-Suman Ghimire 

Urlabari, Morang - Naramaya Adhikari of Miklajung-6, Morang has been living like a refugee with her family in a hut inside a local community forest since she along with other over two dozen families here lost everything in the flood from the local Bakraha River a year ago. 

All those including Naramaya rendered homeless by the flood have been residing in huts constructed on land belonging to a local community forest. We decided to take shelter here as we found nowhere to move out, she shared her compulsion. 

"Dashain celebrations have already begun; small children ask for new clothes and delicious food. The helpless parents are not in the position of fulfilling their wishes. They have no money, no home to live in and no sufficient food to even feed their children," she opened out her heart with tearful eyes. She said her family and her neighbours lost all their belongings including, houses, land, valuables and livestock in the disaster. 

When the entire nation has got engaged with the Dashain celebrations, the survivors of Bakraha flood are worried, as usual, about "safe shelter", sufficient food and other basic needs. The flooded river ravaged the entire settlement. They have been living a wretched life since then. 

Another survivor Man Bahadur Gole narrates his ordeal this way, "The last year flood from the Bakraha River entered the village, forcing the Miklajung folks to move to a nearby jungle in search of safe shelter. A large quantity of arable land was turned into desert before their eyes. The moments were really terrible. Heart is aching and on this backdrop how can the Dashain joy catch their mood? " 

He said they (displaced) are not safe in the forest. They are vulnerable to attack from freed livestock and wild animals. 

Pritimaya Gole has the same story to share with. "No home, no sufficient food, no new cloth for the Dashain and this means no Dashain mood and celebrations at all." 

Chair of the Miklajung Rural Municipality Devi Prasad Acharya said he personally and as the capacity of rural municipality chair felt sorry that he could do nothing for the relief of the disaster victims on this Dashain. Though budget was demanded from the District Natural Disaster Rescue Committee, Morang for the relief of the Milkajung folds, no avail.