Billions in Relief Fund, Little Change for Flood Victims

The Bhotekoshi flood swept away homes, livelihoods and the futures of hundreds of people. Many lost family members, homes and farmland, while children orphaned by the disaster face an uncertain future. Several settlements remain cut off from road networks, and damaged health facilities have disrupted access to basic medical care. Years of hard work and the foundations of people's lives have been destroyed. The Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund, operated by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, has received Rs 18 billion, up from Rs 2.17 billion before the floods. Contributions have come from domestic and foreign donors, government agencies and ordinary citizens who cut back on their own expenses to support victims. Their expectation was that the money would help affected communities rebuild. Yet, the plight of disaster victims suggests that these substantial contributions have not translated into meaningful improvements in their lives. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) was allocated Rs 1 billion for rescue and relief, but only Rs 370 million has been released. Around Rs 260 million has gone towards helicopter operations. Private helicopter companies conducted 2,794 flights, while the Nepali Army carried out 2,068. Although helicopters were essential to rescuing people stranded in remote areas, information on rehabilitation spending and its outcomes remains largely unclear.

The state's responsibility does not end with rescue operations. Its greater challenge is helping affected communities rebuild their lives. Yet, the government's response has so far fallen short. The Department of Urban Development and Building Construction has built 50 temporary shelters in Bidur, Nuwakot, but they remain unoccupied despite being completed before Dashain. Were the shelters designed to meet the needs of affected families? Was the location appropriate? Were beneficiaries consulted before construction? Their continued vacancy exposes the disconnect between government planning and people's actual needs. Rehabilitation must go beyond building houses to restoring access to essential services, livelihoods and social networks. Children are among the worst affected. More than 10,000 children in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading have had their education disrupted. Nineteen schools were fully or partially damaged, affecting around 500 teachers. The government has resumed classes through 56 temporary learning centres. However, the National Child Rights Council's preliminary data show that, among 584 children living in shelters, 269 have lost either their mother or father and 41 have lost both parents. These children need more than access to schools. They require psychological support, secure housing and protection from an uncertain future. The government has announced a Rs 1 billion scholarship scheme, but its funding sources and implementation arrangements remain unclear. The promise must translate into actual support. Healthcare services are also under strain. The Mailung Community Health Unit and the Timure and Syafrubesi health posts in Rasuwa were washed away. In Nuwakot, a bridge connecting to Trishuli Hospital collapsed, while four health facilities in Dhading sustained partial damage. Services are being provided from alternative locations and through medical camps, with critically ill patients airlifted by helicopter. But temporary arrangements cannot replace functioning health facilities. Pregnant women, children, senior citizens and people with chronic illnesses need reliable access to treatment. Restoring damaged health infrastructure must be a priority.

Road connectivity remains another major challenge. A few Bailey bridges at isolated locations cannot address the wider infrastructure crisis. An incident on Tuesday highlighted the government's apparent lack of urgency. Around 18 former ministers visited Infrastructure Minister Sunil Lamsal's office, after securing an appointment, to urge the construction of a bridge over Phurkekhola on the Trishuli River, which connects the flood-affected area with Dhading district headquarters. After making them wait for two and a half hours, the minister sent them back without meeting them. The episode reflects the gap between the urgent needs of affected communities and the government's response. The government must disclose not only how much money has been deposited in the relief fund but also how much has been spent under each heading, how much remains unreleased, how many families have received assistance, how many houses have been rebuilt and how many people have resumed normal lives. Citizens expect transparency and accountability, not speeches. Families who have lost everything cannot rebuild on promises. Orphaned children cannot secure their futures through announcements, and damaged infrastructure cannot be restored through rhetoric. The government's commitment must be measured by tangible improvements in victims' lives, not by relief announcements or the size of the fund. The fund's success should be judged not by the billions in its account but by the homes, livelihoods and futures it helps rebuild.