Saptari flood victims face scarcity

SAPTARI, Aug 26 - Saptakoshi flood displaced, taking shelter by the side of Koshi River in Saptari, have complained that they are compelled to live under scarcity as the relief program has been largely focused on the displaced people of Sunsari. Around 30,000 people from flood hit VDCs, who fled ...

Due to lack of food and clean water many people, especially children and women, have started to fall sick.

Although Saptari local administration, along with other organizations have been assisting relief and refuge for these displaced, it is not sufficient for all. The tents provided by the local administration recently did not even house one- fourth of the population displaced.

According to the Chief District Officer of Saptari, the flood victims on the Sunsari side are receiving relief materials from various national and international organizations as the media is focusing more on the flood displaced of Sunsari, forgetting those in Saptari.

Meanwhile, over 12,000 flood hit Indian citizens arrived in Sunsari district on Monday in search for relief and shelter. It has been learnt that the flood affected people from the Indian side poured into in Nepal upon hearing that they will be provided with relief.

NSP-A all-party probe team over deluge

KATHMANDU - Nepal Sadbhawana Party-Anandidevi (NSP-A) has asked the government to form an all-party investigation committee to find out causes behind the embankment breach of Saptakoshi River.

A National Working Committee (NWC) meeting of the party on Monday has also urged the government to form an all-party mechanism to ensure transparency and equitable distribution of relief materials to flood-hit people.

The meeting welcomed the decision of the party's Constituent Assembly (CA) members to donate 10-day allowance for flood victims.

Over 50,000 locals of four VDCs in Sunsari district were displaced last week after torrential rains caused the Saptakoshi River to burst its banks. The victims have been living in temporary camps set up in different parts of the district.

According to an NSP-A press statement, the NWC meeting supported the party's earlier decision to suspend former minister Shyam Sundar Gupta and Khushi Lal Mandal from the party's general membership and initiate disciplinary action against the duo.

Among others, the two-day meeting decided to launch Madhes State National Unity campaign to bring the party's concept of Himal, Pahad and Tarai into the national debate in the context of setting up of federal states. It also decided to press the government to recognize Hindi as second national language.