A three-member subcommittee tasked to probe the reports that the WFP distributed inedible foodstuffs in Gorkha submitted a report to Speaker Subas Nembang, who heads the parliament's Special National Committee for Disaster Management, Monitoring and Direction.
The subcommittee led by Bhanubhakta Dhakal in its report stated that 120 sacks of rice, each weighing 50 kg, distributed by WFP in Laprak village were found to be rotten and emitting foul smell, which could clearly put human health at risk.
The field report also read that the WFP representatives distributed the spoiled rice to the victims despite the request from the joint team, comprising of local representatives of political parties and farmers in the area, to stop it. But WFP officials distributed it arguing that "the quality of rice is good enough for the locals of Gorkha."
However, after conducting tests on the rice samples, the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DoFTQC), stated that the rice was rotten and stinking and it contained the water ratio far higher than the standard set by the government. The DoFTQC's findings has been attached to the subcommittee's report.
"Though the standard water ratio is 15 percent, the rice distributed there contained 32.7 percent. The tests also showed that the rice were full of moulds," as per the DoFTQC report.
The lawmakers have concluded that the rotten rice was distributed to victims as concerned bodies failed to monitor the process. "It was found that the local bodies did not test foodstuffs provided by WFP before storing it in the warehouse," read the report.
The subcommittee said it prepared the report after rigorous discussions with local representatives from political parties, civil society members, local authorities, security agencies, Nepal Red Cross, Save the Children, WFP, among other stakeholders, in the district.
Meanwhile, another subcommittee led by lawmaker Sanjay Gautam also confirmed that pulses stored in WFP warehouse in Nepalgunj were inedible.
The field report submitted to Speaker Nembang by Gautam on Thursday states that it was unfortunate that WFP officials did not inform local government officials about the quality of foodstuffs stored in their warehouse.
In a strongly-worded recommendation the committee asked the government to immediately take action against those involved in distributing substandard food, putting public health at risk. "The WFP should make its procurement and distribution process more transparent and coordinated," the report mentions in the recommendation section.
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