Lumanti | News & Events

Need of Immediate WASH facilities

It's more than a week since the forceful demolition by the government, the evicted family members of Thapathai squatters' settlement who have no alternative to go, are waiting in hope for proper rehabilitation plan and proper alternative for shelter from the government. They have become more hopeful after the prime minister's commitment during his visit to the evicted site on 13th May 2012. The forcefully eviction was undertaken by the government on 8th May 2012.

Some households, those who are yet resided in the area, especially women and children including elderly people, are in mercy condition. Though they have constructed temporary shelter with plastics and sacks, they are spending their nights with difficulties due to rainfalls and mosquitoes. In addition, due to the unhealthy sanitation practices and unsafe consumption water, most of the children are found suffering from water borne diseases. Moreover, it is reported that the pregnant women in the community have been suffering the most.

A quick assessment of water and sanitation status in the evicted community by LUMANTI has stressed the immediate need of safe water supply, sanitation and hygiene to prevent possibilities of water borne disease outbreaks. In the eviction site, water supply through tanker need to be supplied using disinfectant and environment cleanliness need to be maintained to avoid possibilities of health hazards.
Despite all these miseries in the community, the government has neither provided humanitarian support nor any compensation. However, some non-governmental organizations including LUMANTI have been providing support by providing food, water and other basic facilities.

A community level committee of women has been formed for coordination and management of the basic facilities. A committee has also opened a bank account for the effective management of the support from the various organizations. Community Women Forum (CWF), Nepal Mahila Ekata Samaj (NMES) and LUMANTI in coordination have been facilitation the locally formed committee for necessary humanitarian support and management.