Koshi flood victims launch protest demanding fresh handouts for festival

Hundreds of families displaced by the recent floods caused by a breach in Koshi River embankment in Sunsari district have launched protest, demanding fresh handouts including cash so that they would be able to celebrate Dashain festival in their own small way.

The flood victims of some of the worst affected parts blocked the main highway in Sunsari district on Saturday, protesting lack of prompt assistance from the government.

The flood victims have complained that the two installments of cash handouts of Rs 700 rupees and Rs 1000 from the government, recently, were too little to meet their need during the festival, reports said.

They have announced that the agitation would go on until the government comes up with fresh cash handouts.

There are nearly 40,000 thousand flood-affected people living in makeshift camps in different parts of Sunsari. The government in collaboration with Nepal Red Cross and some aid agencies has been providing flood, clothing and medical care for them, but there are growing complaints of insufficient relief aid. nepalnews.com mk Oct 04 08