"We read news about the quake victims every day. They are in pathetic condition and are in acute need of relief to survive the increasing cold. However, instead of distributing the relief materials, these materials are still lying down in warehouse," Sagar Siwakoti, a youth leader in Jhapa, said. Siwakoti, who had previously volunteered in relief distribution during the earthquake, further added that "huge stock of relief materials, which could fulfill the needs of many of the quake victims, is stuck in Jhapa alone."
While accepting the existence of relief materials in warehouse, the District Administration Office of Jhapa stated that it is waiting for instructions from the concerned ministry for dispatching the relief materials to affected places. Relief materials which came from several countries are kept in Birtamod and Bhadrapur Food Corporation as well as in Nepal Inter Model Transport Development Committee warehouses.
These warehouses are filled with huge quantity of rice, tarpaulins, blankets and clothes which if provided to their recipients could assist them in addressing their acute needs. "This is sheer negligence on the government's part. So many people from across the world sent those relief materials for the needy people. Earthquake victims are dying of cold and hunger out there. But instead of expediting delivery of these relief materials to them, the government is sitting tight and letting the relief rot in warehouses," Siwakoti added.
According to Mechi Custom Office, rice worth Rs 350.2 million provided by Bangladesh, India and Bhutan, among other countries, had entered through the eastern border. Similarly, clothes and other materials worth Rs 570.5 million had entered through the border. "However, all these goods are still in warehouses while the condition of the quake victims is getting worse by the day. Nobody, neither the government nor the civil society, cares for the quake victims," said a custom staff, preferring anonymity. "It's the duty of the administration office to send the relief to the recipients, but they have not shown much interest in expediting the process for reasons unknown," he added.
"Bangladesh alone had sent ten thousand metric ton of rice for the quake victims. And half of it is still stored in warehouses here. Jhapa administration is waiting for 'order from above' while the rice has started rotting," said a staff of Food Corporation.
According to him, 49 quintals of rice that was donated by Bangladesh had got wet in the warehouse. The rice had rotten and this was discovered only after it started stinking in the warehouse. The rice is in process of being destroyed. "There are bottles of juice, dry fruits, drugs, blankets and other materials. Many of the edible items have crossed their expiry date," he added.
Meanwhile, Jhapa administration claimed that it has been doing its best to send off the relief material. "We informed the concerned ministry time and again. We have been consistently making efforts for sending these materials to the needful," said Tej Prasad Poudel, Chief District Officer of Jhapa. "The rice from Bangladesh has been handed over to the food corporation. The government will take it away as per need," he said.
Poudel further informed that other relief materials have been stored in the warehouses of Inter Model Transport Development Committee and Regional Administration Office, among others. "The materials have been stored there. We'll send it as soon as the ministry gives order," he said.
According to Poudel, six truck loads of relief materials are stored in Regional Administration Office and around 5 truck loads of clothes are stored in Kakadvitta warehouse.
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