10th of Ashwin, 2083, Saturday, Machhapokhari, Kathmandu – The devastating and unprecedented tsunami like floods in the Bhote Koshi and other river basins, triggered by a landslide of glacier ice and rocks, caused the greatest loss of human lives in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, along with the destruction of physical infrastructure worth billions of rupees. Among the families affected by the floods in these districts, Rural Self-reliance Development Centre (RSDC) is providing emergency relief support to affected families in Ward 7 of Bidur Municipality, Nuwakot and Ward 5 of Uttargaya Rural Municipality, Betrawoti, Rasuwa. The support was provided by RSDC in collaboration with INGO Malteser International as part of the project “Emergency Assistance to Support the Flood Response in Nuwakot and Rasuwa, Nepal” with the approval from the Social Welfare Council (SWC) and support of the respective local governments.
The floods of Bhadra 10th have resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives among communities living along the banks of Trishuli river, with thousands of people still reported missing. Hundreds of families have lost their homes, businesses, and cultivated lands, which have been swept away and reduced to riverbed. Many of the families impacted by the floods have been displaced from those areas. Many of such displaced families are currently residing in temporary holding centres in the local level, with some residing with extended family members in the village areas while many are residing in Kathmandu under various temporary shelter arrangements.
Under the aforementioned project, RSDC has provided emergency assistance to 83 families from Ward 7 of Bidur Municipality and 93 families from Uttargaya Rural Municipality who are currently taking shelter in Kathmandu. The assistance, provided on the 9th and 10th of Ashwin, included three months’ worth of food supplies, cooking and eating utensils, temporary shelter materials, and health and hygiene supplies.
The relief assistance was provided to the families residing in Kathmandu who were verified by the respective ward offices and included in the list of disaster-affected families as prepared by the concerned local governments. The relief distribution programme was attended by Ms. Chameli Gurung, Vice-chairperson of Uttargaya Rural Municipality, along with other social representatives; Dr. Chet Nath Adhikari and other social representatives from Ward 7 of Bidur Municipality; RSDC Member Secretary Ms. Kanta Singh Manandhar; General Members Mr. Hari Prasad Bhattari and Ms. Sabitri Sharma; and the Executive Chief Mr. Shiva Prasad Bashyal and staff members of RSDC. Various social representatives also provided support by volunteering during the relief distribution.
On the occasion, RSDC Executive Chief Mr. Shiva Prasad Bashyal, on behalf of RSDC, paid heartfelt tribute to the ones who lost their lives in the natural disaster and expressed his sincere condolences to the bereaved families. Along with, on behalf of RSDC and everyone, he extended his gratitude towards the donor organization Malteser International for providing their support during these trying times.
In the near future, RSDC will provide relief assistance to the affected families from the aforementioned Wards who are currently residing in the disaster-affected areas as well.