People of remote villages in south Humla could face a possible food crisis due to delay in movement of food stuff.

Though the government has started transporting rice to the drought-hit districts in Karnali under the ‘food for work’ programme, the NFC has been unable to ferry rice to the affected areas. The NFC had airlifted rice provided by the Bangladeshi government in grant for earthquake victims from its godowns in Nepalgunj and Surkhet a week ago. The NFC staffers in Humla said they are going to transport rice at Shreenagar and Sarkeghat villages by helicopters. “As most of the airlines companies are giving priority to the pilgrims these days, the NFC office cannot ferry rice in the drought-affected villages,” said Narayan KC, chief at the Humla NFC. 

The NFC had planned to transport 4,500 quintal rice to Shreenagar and 3,500 quintal to Sarkeghat.

The government had declared “Karnali Special Programme” and decided to distribute rice in the drought-hit villages a few days ago. According to the NFC, 30,000 quintals of rice will be distributed in four drought-hit districts of Karnali and 4,000 quintals in Bajura district.