How to Help Flood Victims in Bhote Koshi and Trishuli: What You Can and Cannot Do
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The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (DRRMA) has reported that the highest demand for relief materials among flood victims from Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading districts includes medicines, food, cooking utensils, and tarpaulins.
The government advises individuals wishing to provide relief materials or financial assistance not to personally visit the affected areas unnecessarily.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office expressed serious concern regarding unauthorized individuals, groups, and organizations publicly sharing unofficial QR codes and personal account numbers to collect funds.
Although there was already a ban on individuals, organizations, and offices collecting funds for flood victims independently, complaints have arisen about some collecting donations into their personal accounts.
The Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Finance have released nine official accounts and QR codes linked to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund, including a US dollar (USD) account.
Previously, the Disaster Authority issued a notice to halt collection of financial aid at an individual level.
The authority noted complaints that individuals had begun collecting funds and sharing QR codes for cash donations without authorization.
The Prime Minister’s Office’s ‘Hello Sarkar’ platform has also received complaints regarding individual and organizational fundraising posts circulating on social media, according to Chandrasher Rana from the Hello Sarkar desk.
Rana mentioned that people have also been contacting the office to verify whether the QR codes circulating on social media, purporting to be linked to government relief funds, are legitimate.
“We are also sharing the official QR codes via WhatsApp,” he added.
How Can Those Who Want to Help Proceed?
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According to Shanti Mahat, spokesperson for the Disaster Authority, financial contributions must be made only to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund or the Disaster Relief Fund, as per official arrangements.
“For non-financial donations, provisions have been made to contribute directly to the affected districts. Contact information for these districts has been published on our official Facebook page and website,” Mahat explained.
She added that arrangements have been made to receive relief items such as food, clothing, medicines, and other materials at warehouses located inside Tribhuvan International Airport, the Nepali Army barracks in Battar, Nuwakot, and the Nepal Police Training Center in Samakhusi.
The emergency warehouse at Tribhuvan Airport is used to gather aid materials arriving from overseas which are then dispatched to the flood-affected areas.
“Anyone seeking to provide assistance must coordinate with the Authority, as only materials matching the current needs of the affected areas will be accepted,” Mahat said.
Mahat noted that only local residents are permitted to distribute relief directly within their respective areas.
“Those residents do not need to come here for approval – we have waived that requirement. They can distribute the aid from their area. Our team at the Battar warehouse manages approvals, deciding what materials will be accepted or rejected,” she elaborated.
According to Purushottam Bhandari, officer of the emergency warehouse at Tribhuvan Airport complex, requests from Rasuwa district include tarpaulins, stretchers, first aid supplies, medicines, instant noodles, beaten rice, and blankets.
Similarly, Nuwakot and Dhading have requested rice, lentils, beaten rice, clothing, lighting devices, and cooking utensils.
What Should Those Willing to Help Avoid?
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The Disaster Authority urges people to contact only the publicized phone numbers to obtain information on relief efforts and requests that individuals do not carry relief materials themselves to the affected areas.
“Individuals are not permitted to distribute relief directly to those affected. We have provided contact numbers; please give materials to them. Direct distribution by individuals is not allowed,” spokesperson Mahat emphasized.
Law Minister Sobita Gautam has also issued a social media notice warning that collected relief supplies must not be distributed at personal discretion, with penalties including potential prosecution.
Minister Gautam’s notice cautions against spreading rumors, misusing funds collected as donations or relief, distributing relief arbitrarily, or exploiting relief materials for personal benefit; violators face imprisonment and fines.
A video showing people removing jewelry from the body of a woman swept away in the Thursday flood went viral on social media.
Police have confirmed that individuals involved in the incident have been arrested.
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