Poor relief distribution compounds misery

Worst-affected Sindhupalchok, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dhading and Kavre yet to receive aid

Though relief material poured into Nepal from all over the world since the killer earthquake, water, tent, food and medicine are not reaching the affected population due to poor distribution and management on the part of the Nepal government, compounded by the non-availability of manpower.

“Getting the relief material off-loaded from Kathmandu airport is one of the my toughest challenge,” Maj Gen J S Sandhu, the commanding officer of the Indian Army task force told Deccan Herald sitting in his camp office next to the airport.

Nepal government officials admit that poor turn-around time and congestion at the airport as one of the reasons for poor delivery relief distribution. 

Birendra Prasad Shrestha, general manager of Tribhuvan international airport said C-130 military aircraft carrying relief material from many countries occupy the berths for hours as the airport has only 9 stands, it leads to congestion.

This happened, officials say, because the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal gave flight permissions to all and sundry without a realistic assessment of the airport’s handling capacity. “Even in normal days are infamous for poor cargo and baggage handling,” said an official from a reputable airline.

The relief operation is coordinated by the Nepal Emergency Operations Centre, headed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of Nepal. But complaints of unplanned and shoddy relief distribution come from everywhere.  “I am waiting in truck for the last three days. I don’t know when I will be told to go and to where,” said a driver, whose truck, full of relief material, is parked inside the sprawling campus of the Indian Embassy on the Kantipath.

Abhay Kumar, a spokesperson of the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, said so far 280 tonnes of relief material have come from India. The material is being distributed as per the directions given by Nepal authorities. Outside the Kathmandu valley, many villages in the worst affected Sindhupalchok, Nuwakot, Gorkha, Dhading, Rasuwa and Kavre are yet to receive any aid.  In several places, roads are either non-existent or in extreme poor condition making the job even harder. 

Absence of manpower too adds to the problem of poor relief distribution. “Even if there are vehicles, there are no people to transport the material,” said Manoj Thapa, executive board member of the Nepal Red Cross Society.

In the absence of people, the Red Cross can send only about 10 trucks and 20 small vehicles to the districts for distribution.