"After being displaced by the flood, life has completely changed. Dashain, Tihar or any other festivals have lost their significance in our life. Last year's Dashain was also meaningless," she said wearily looking at her kids.
Since the past two years, Sunar along with her five children has been living in a temporary shelter provided by Mahila Prashiksan Kendra after landslides on October 13 and 14 last year washed away her house, land and all belongings. Her children, of whom the eldest is just 13 years old, keep asking for this and that. However, even managing food for them is a huge struggle for her.
"Catering to their medical needs and even feeding them full stomach has remained a huge challenge for me. I have no way to keep them happy in Dashain," said Sunar.
Situation of dozens of families like her who have occupied 18 different camps in the locality is no different. During last year's Dashain, these landslide victims were provided with food packs by the government and non government organizations. However, during the past 10 months, no one has cared about their plight.
"Life has become quite hard as we have no job in hand. For poor once house is lost, it takes years to get back to normal situation," noted Sunar.
She added that the tarpaulins provided by the government have begun to torn. Water drops in during rainfall and on a sunny day the heat inside the tent is unbearable, she complained. And now with winter fast approaching, they await helplessly for chilly nights.
"The government had provided us Rs 50,000 to buy land. But that was all used to pay off loans. It would be better if we were given employment," said another landslide displaced Narendra Khatri. Most of these displaced hired by employers when they are in need for construction works, but such assignments are irregular. "We make some money by working as labors. But, such opportunity comes only once in a while," he added. Khatri wished that the government should have come up with a special package for them, at least for Dashain.
"Earlier Dashain, we had received support from them. Our situation has not changed. We have families, children. Don't we have the right to celebrate Dashain?"
Laxmi Shahi of Kalagaun camp looks equally lost and gloomy. She has been wondering how to manage food and clothes for her eight member family for Dashain.
"I wish such festivals would never come, it adds only sufferings to our already troubled life. It becomes unbearable when children ask for meat and sweets during Dashain" she remarked.
Twenty four persons had lost their life during landslides and 91 people had disappeared whom the state later announced dead.
The local administration claims that the displaced have been provided relief and facilities. However, the condition of the affected looks pathetic in lack of proper house and employment.
According to Chief District Officer Hit Prasad Poudel, even though the people have been receiving government support under several heads, there is no separate relief in view of Dashain. "We have no Dashain or Tihar specific relief or aid program for them. So far, the administration has distributed Rs 20.65 million to the displaced as aid for purchasing land for 564 families," said Poudel.
Sita Sunar one of those who received the money from the government stated she and others like her spent the money in buying food items and paying off loans. "My husand is no more alive. They don't hire women for work. I have no way to earn money," she said.
According to Lalit Shahi, District Committee for Flood Victims, there is no meaning is expecting the victims to overcome the situations on their own. He stressed that the people who have lost their houses and lands to landslides cannot get back to normal course of life until and unless the government supports them in real sense.
"The government provided certain amount in relief and then it stopped supporting us without devising any long term programs. The funds get exhausted, what we need are sustainable programs," she asserted.
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Dashain fails to bring joy to Udayapur flood victims
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