Summary :
It has been more than a month Koshi river breached it's embankments resulting into the livelihood and property loss of biblical proportions in Sunsari district. Twenty wards of three VDCs Paschim Kusaha, Haripur and Sripur are fully affected whilst other five VDCs too have severe affect. The actual loss has not been determined yet. At the backdrop of Koshi flood, Co-Action Nepal (CAN) team has undertaken a field trip on Eastern Sunsari between 16-22 September. The study was focussed on following points:
- Overall assessment of rescue, relief and rehabilitation process.
- Situation of the shelter camps, views of the displaced people.
- Impact on school education.
- Issues of women, child and disabled.
- On going efforts, challenges and planning.
- Voices of key persons involved in relief and rehabilitation.
The role of government and non government agencies during the relief process has been appreciated from all quarters. The basic requirements of the flood victims such as food, nutrition, clothes and shelter are apparently met. Supporting agencies are executing well co-ordinated, communicated, shared and complementary efforts to give the best and at the earliest.
Most of the flood victims do not bear grudges towards basic requirements they are served with. They are now anxious about their livelihood, education of the child and resumption of the self-sustained life.
The unavailability of the resettlement area has troubled DDRC Sunsari. For the resettlement of 50 thousand people, DDRC needs at least 150 bighas of land but only 20-25 bighas seem possible till the date. DDRC is in due process to get land on lease or buy it. On Eastern Sunsari, around 27 thousand people are living in 21 camps including two permanent camps at Jhumka and Laukahi. Around 100 missing cases mostly of children are still unsolved.
The number of the flood victims has startled the supporting agencies as it is far more higher than the actual population. As per the record, the flood affected 20 wards of three VDCs of Sunsari viz. Paschim Kusaha, Haripur & Shripur and displaced Indians should not have population more than 35 thousand, but during the relief process, 50 thousand and more have claimed being displaced or affected. The surplus number of 15 thousands needs to be probed and re-assessed frequently.
War-footed efforts are going on to address education needs of 23 thousand school goers. Students and teachers are widely scattered in camps or elsewhere thus posing difficulties to resume classes. Idle and traumatized condition of the students needs to be healed with psychological treatment.
Health situation of the victims doesnot seem serious now but mechanism should be built up for regular availability of the health services. Health awareness and health education should be intensified.
The plight of women and adolescent girls in the crammed shelter areas needs to be intervened as they are facing risk of sexually harassment and abuse. The problems of disable and elderly people are not addressed hitherto nor their incapability has been regarded during relief distribution and rehabilitation process.