Flood survivors face water shortages, disease risk in crowded holding centres

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The people’s representatives have reported that the displaced people, mainly the children and elderly, are suffering from various illnesses. Chameli Gurung, vice-chair of Uttargaya Rural Municipality in Rasuwa, said that children at Shivalaya holding centre had also developed viral fever, colds and coughs. “There have been some cases of common cold, cough and fever,” she said.

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The concern is heightened by the number of children living in the centres. A preliminary assessment by the National Child Rights Council found 1,233 children in holding centres, including 632 girls and 601 boys. Of them, 102 were without parents or relatives, while 439 had been separated from their parents and were being cared for by relatives.

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However, health authorities in Nepal say no infectious disease or epidemic situation has been seen. “We have only seen patients with viral fever and mild diarrhoea in Nuwakot,” said Karki. “To prevent infections, mosquito nets and sanitation materials have been distributed, and filtration has been facilitated in places where drinking water is contaminated.”

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Meanwhile, mental health problems can persist long after the disaster, experts warn. People who lost relatives, homes, property and livelihoods are unsure when they can return, whether their homes can be rebuilt, where their children will study and how they will earn a living.

Dr Pomawati Thapa, chief of the Non-communicable Disease and Mental Health Section at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, said that children may become fearful, withdrawn, sleep poorly, wake repeatedly in fright or cling to their parents after a disaster.

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