After the devastating earthquakes in 2015, the government declared that all relief aid and cash assistance for victims needed to be donated to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund to ensure proper and equal distributions to all affected areas. The government feared a lopsided flow of funds to more accessible areas, with remote areas neglected. It was because of this reason that after the flooding this year, money and relief materials were once again directed to the PM’s Relief Fund. However, the government has been slow to provide those in need with funds, resulting in people being unwilling to donate money to the fund. Additionally, the government’s lack of efficiency in aid provision following the 2015 earthquake has made people question the state’s credibility. These were the reasons that fuelled NGOs such as the Thamel Tourism Development Council (TTDC) to undertake independent missions.

After receiving notice that west Tarai was gravely affected by flooding, the TTDC contacted the region’s district officer, who informed them that Gulariya municipality in Bardia was severely affected and had received no aid due to its isolated location. The chief district officer of Bardia gave the TTDC permission to start a private aid mission and distribute relief materials directly. 

On Thursday, August 24, a few weeks after the devastating floods, relief materials funded by the TTDC finally reached the remote Tharu village in Gulariya municipality, home to 300 stranded families. Certain members of the TTDC also accompanied the relief materials so as to ascertain that supplies would arrive in the village safely and be distributed properly. Relief materials included food, medical supplies, kitchen supplies, temporary shelters, toiletries, and clothing. Supplies were estimated to last each family at least one month. According to the TTDC, the relief materials were bought through the donations from locals and business owners in Thamel. 

The devastation caused by the floods in the remote Tharu village was clearly visible; the flood waters had yet to recede completely. Luckily, floods that had occurred a few years earlier had taught the villagers some valuable lessons, and residents had built their homes in a way that could withstand the floods to some extent. Stable columns made out of tree trunks were added to the construction to give further support to the rooftops. Therefore, mostly, only the floors of the houses were swept away by the floods. Due to these previous preparations, the basic structure of the homes remained stable and villagers were safe from collapsing rooftops. Through these prearrangements, the village was able to keep casualties to a minimum.

Future priorities

Initiatives of NGOs such as the TTDC are laudable, however, they would not be entirely necessary if the government functioned efficiently and effectively. It is the state’s duty to safeguard its people, and the recent floods have made it increasingly evident that the government has to intensively prepare to help people and save properties. To overcome casualties in the future, the government must adopt necessary measures to deal with disasters—human lives depend on it. 

The biggest priority and policy issue of the government for the future should be creating sustainable change by training people in rural areas, giving them the necessary structural-and technical skills to make their homes disaster-resilient. The government has to provide required material to rebuild homes. Giving money to affected families may not be enough and might have no use if people do not know how to invest most effectively. Instead of giving money communities need to be given building materials and know-how.

Areas of focus

Furthermore, a better system of communication between district officers, government agencies and NGOs is required to create efficient strategic coordination of funding streams and relief missions during a crisis. This means creating a faster and more effective access to details and information.

An official online webpage with a record of affected areas, including description of NGOs already on a mission, and detailed information on what specific materials are lacking in which region should be listed. District officers need to provide the government with these details.

This data must be put online so it can be accessed quickly. In a crisis where time management is crucial, human lives depend on action being taken as quickly as possible. An online system would create the comprehensive overview and transparency that is necessary and would help avoid excessive aid distribution in only a few regions. I am aware that efforts by the government are being made to establish better coordination. But so far, there has simply been no effective and concise strategy that works to the degree required. If anything, mandatory coordination with District Disaster Relief Committees (DDRCs) made distribution far more complicated and tedious.

It is important that government and DDRCs are involved in the coordination process, but too much intrusion into the collection and distribution process causes confusion and delays in distribution. In addition, growing fears of the government’s corrupt practices have left many people frustrated, leading some to undertake private missions, sometimes without coordinating with the government and with a risk of legal repercussions. 

For the future, the government must learn to act even faster in times of crisis and make an effort to regain the trust of the people. All efforts will be fruitless if people refuse to cooperate and deep distrust in the government’s sincerity continues.

- Ahey is an Intern at The Kathmandu Post; he is pursuing a Bachelors degree in Political Science