report in The Himalayan Times, Nov 9, 2023
KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 8Ramita Thapa, a resident of Nalgad Municipality-3, hastily fled her home with her two children when the earthquake struck on the night of November 3.
While escaping, she injured her leg. Her house collapsed due to the tremor, leaving her homeless. She now resides under a tarpaulin tent along the road in Nayabasti, Khalanga, the district headquarters.
Thapa’s trauma has taken a toll on her mental health, as she constantly experiences hallucinations of her body and the ground shaking. She is unable to venture far from the open road. Her 14-year-old daughter is also traumatized, crying ‘Quake! Quake!’ in her sleep.
In the district headquarters, many people facing mental trauma are left without shelter, spending their days and nights under makeshift tarpaulin shelters along the roadside. Those who had been living in rented accommodations from areas outside the district headquarters are also struggling after their homes were destroyed in the disaster.
Milan Chadara of Thaple, Bheri Municipality-3, lamented the distribution of relief materials, noting that these supplies are provided in the name of house owners, leaving earthquake victims from outside the district headquarters who were renting without relief materials.
When he sought a tarp, officials at the local ward office turned him away, stating that tarps were distributed only to house owners. People like him, with addresses outside the district headquarters, face difficulties as they are denied tarpaulins and other relief materials. Milan’s family is forced to live in the open, despite repeatedly seeking assistance.
Ganesh Thapa, another individual from outside the district headquarters who had been living on rent with his family, echoed Milan’s experience. They share the same distress. Ganesh only received a tarp after he reached out to Suresh Sunar, the Chief District Officer of Jajarkot, and shared his ordeal.
Jhalak Malla of Thaple recounted that initially, people like him, who came from areas outside the district headquarters and were living in rented rooms, were considered eligible for relief. However, they were later excluded, leading to disappointment during these challenging times. His family still hasn’t received a tarpaulin.
Numerous earthquake survivors in Barekot are also struggling to receive relief supplies. Prem Bohara of Barekot Rural Municipality-4 expressed his reluctance to work due to ongoing aftershocks that have shaken Jajarkot.
He noted that children and the elderly are particularly traumatized by the disaster, and children are distressed about the damage to their homes and schools, affecting their education.
The 6.4 magnitude earthquake has derailed Jajarkot’s development progress when the district was gradually advancing on the path of development.
Meanwhile, in the neighboring district of Rukum West, residents have also voiced concerns about not receiving relief materials.
Damage assessment in various Palikas of Jajarkot district is as follows:
Bheri Municipality: 344 houses completely damaged, 712 houses partially damaged, 2 school buildings collapsed, 17 school buildings partially damaged, and 5 government offices damaged. 36 people killed, 65 injured.
Nalgad Municipality: 200 houses completely damaged, 600 houses partially damaged, 12 school buildings completely destroyed, 21 school buildings partially damaged, and 6 government offices damaged. 52 people died, 73 injured.
Chhedagada: 100 houses completely damaged, 500 houses partially damaged, 3 school buildings partially damaged, 2 people killed, 1 person injured.
Kushe Rural Municipality: 95 houses completely damaged, 300 houses partially damaged, 4 school buildings completely destroyed, 17 school buildings partially damaged, 1 government office completely collapsed, 17 other offices partially damaged. 2 people killed, 1 injured.
Barekot Rural Municipality: 160 houses completely damaged, 560 houses partially damaged, 5 school buildings completely destroyed, 2 school buildings partially damaged, 1 government office completely damaged, 2 government offices partially damaged. 4 people killed, 4 injured.
Shivalaya Rural Municipality: 1 house completely damaged, 37 houses partially damaged, 5 school buildings partially damaged, 1 government office partially damaged, 1 person injured.
Junichande Rural Municipality: 270 houses completely damaged, 4,056 houses partially damaged.
Jajarkot District: 1,170 houses completely damaged, 7,166 houses partially damaged, 23 school buildings completely damaged, 57 school buildings partially damaged. 101 people killed, 152 injured.
https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/even-after-five-days-since-the-disaster-earthquake-survivors-are-not-receiving-tarps
