Flood victims forced to settle in forest camp

Lal Bahadur Saud of Bhajani Municipality-5 of Kailali has been living in the Mahunyal Community Forest Camp in Bhajani for the past one year. He has been living in a tent in the same camp since he was displaced due to the floods on July 29 last year. "The house is still flooded and we can't find a place to live. We are all looking for a safe place to live and have taken refuge in the community forest land," he said. No. ”

More than 550 households in wards 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9 of Bhajani Municipality, which were affected by last year's floods, have been staying at the community forest land for the past one year. 

Nirmal Raji of Jani-9 has been living in the camp. After being displaced by the floods, he followed the locals to the Community Forest camp. There he has built a temporary thatched house and his family has been living in the same camp. "After being affected by the floods, we had to leave our homes and live in camps. The local government deprived the people living in the camps of relief," said Nirmal.

Johnny-5 Jogeni BK said that even though he got rid of the fear of floods, he had to spend more time in the camp. "Everyone is inside and outside the house during the day, talking, not knowing when the day is over," said Jogeni. He said that there are no toilets in the camp and people had to travel far in the forest at night.

Parvati Chaudhary of Bhajani-7 says that she was forced to live in the forest not out of desire. "Let's go back home. We have to stay awake day and night due to the floods. If we stay here, the fear of wild animals is the same," said Parvati. He said that they have built houses in the camp but it is still not safe.

The forest office has repeatedly written letters to the people living in the community forest to clear the forest, but they have been saying that they will not go anywhere until there is other option. The local government has not yet responded as it has not been able to manage the flood victims anywhere else. Chief Administrative Officer of the municipality, Dharmaraj Binadi, said that the encroached land could not be cleared by the local government alone, adding that community forest and administration were also needed for that.