Psychosocial counsellor Arpita Subba received an emotional message a few days ago. The message came from a girl who lost both her parents in the floods. Subba has been providing psychosocial counselling at a temporary shelter at Mustang Gumba in Swayambhu, Kathmandu, where flood victims from Timure have been accommodated.
In her message, the girl expressed concern about an uncertain future. She worried about growing up without her parents, having no paternal uncles to turn to for support, her younger brother’s education and the financial difficulties they might face in the years ahead. She sent the message to Subba seeking emotional support.
Along with the grief of losing her parents, the girl now faces additional family responsibilities. She must also find a source of income.
Her emotional message reflected the uncertainty brought by the devastating floods.
“Madam, I am not facing any problems right now. But who knows what the future holds? If someone could help my brother and me financially when we face difficulties in the future, I would be grateful. This situation is extremely painful for us. I do not think anyone would readily come forward to help us find a solution during this difficult time,” she wrote.
With her father having been an only son, she has no other paternal relatives to rely on for support. Expressing her pain at being left helpless, she said, “Since my father was an only son, there is no one else on my father’s side who can help us. My maternal grandmother has come to support us. We need financial assistance and emotional support to move forward.”
Fifty days have passed since the floods struck the Bhotekoshi River. Timure residents among the flood victims from Rasuwa rescued by security personnel have been accommodated at Mustang Gumba. With no certainty about permanent resettlement, the victims are increasingly feeling the burden of their circumstances.
The girl told the counsellor how difficult life was becoming.
“We feel extremely weak right now because it is very difficult to move forward in life without our father and mother. I am trying to boost my younger brother’s morale. Although I keep trying to encourage him, I can understand his mood from his behaviour,” she said.
Those rescued from the floods on Bhadra 10 were initially accommodated at Yellow Gumba in Nagarjun. As the number of people staying there increased, victims from Syafrubesi remained at that location, while those from Timure were moved to Mustang Gumba.
The shelter at Mustang Gumba houses 279 women, 289 men and 126 children from 136 households in Timure. The Lions Club has so far arranged meals for them. Although they have food and shelter, uncertainty about the future has become their primary concern.
Khangyu Sherpa, a mother of two, said, “For now, we have food and a place to stay. But we have nowhere else to go. We have nothing of our own anymore.”
Before the floods, Khangyu and her husband ran a shop in Timure and earned a reasonable income. They could afford to educate their two children in Kathmandu. The couple survived by fleeing the rapidly rising floodwaters, but all their documents were swept away. They no longer have any documents that could establish their identity before government agencies.
They want to return to their former home. However, even after 50 days, the government has taken no initiative to facilitate their return, adding to Khangyu’s worries.
She appealed to the government, saying, “The government should arrange for us to live in our own place again. Our children should be able to continue their education. Within two to four years, we should be able to get back on our feet.”
The victims expect the government to arrange permanent resettlement based on the nature and extent of their losses. They want the government to prioritise families according to their circumstances, distinguishing between those who have lost family members, those whose property has been completely destroyed, and those who suffered losses in Rasuwa but still have alternative sources of income elsewhere.
Concern is growing that the three tiers of government, which were visible at the temporary shelters in the initial days, have gradually stopped visiting. Subba, who is providing psychosocial counselling to flood victims, said those staying in temporary shelters were beginning to feel abandoned by the government.
Describing their concerns, she said, “Their main concern is how they will be resettled. How long can they continue living in temporary shelters?”
The victims are also worried about the government’s failure to act promptly to replace documents lost in the floods. The education of children staying at Mustang Gumba remains uncertain as well.
In the initial days, some donors had offered to pay the children’s school fees. However, concerns about tuition costs have resurfaced in recent days.
Schools have refused to waive the fees. The victims fear their children may have to stop attending school because they cannot afford to pay.
Children, adults and people with chronic illnesses are all living in the shelter. However, doctors who previously visited to examine their health and provide consultations have also stopped coming in recent days.
The management of Mustang Gumba has promised to accommodate the flood victims for up to three months. What will happen after that remains uncertain. The victims are urging the government to help them return to their former homes as soon as possible.
A flood victim said residents of Rasuwa had previously contributed to government revenue through business, tourism and cross-border trade.
“We lost everything in just seven minutes. Back then, we were earning money and contributing to the government. Now that we have been reduced to living in a monastery, shouldn’t the government look after us?” the victim asked.
The victims say they could once again contribute to government revenue if they were able to return to their former homes and resume their livelihoods.
Gradually, the victims are beginning to open up about their uncertain lives. Some, however, are still unable to speak openly about what they have endured.
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