Kathmandu: Residents of the squatters’ holding center in Radhaswami, Kirtipur staged a protest after food distribution was suspended for nearly two days, leaving hundreds of displaced people struggling without regular meals.
According to residents, food services stopped on Sunday evening and had not resumed by Tuesday morning. Families living at the center said they were forced to survive on limited supplies while waiting for authorities to resolve the issue.
Speaking to RedVoice, a resident said no meals had been provided since Sunday evening.
“Food service stopped at around 6 pm on Sunday and it had still not resumed by Tuesday morning,” They said.
Residents said they deliberately avoided seeking assistance from nearby communities, arguing that doing so would lessen pressure on the government to fulfill its commitments.
Children Miss School, Patients Struggle
On Monday, children at the center were provided beaten rice and yogurt while adults received beaten rice and snack mix. Residents said the food was inadequate, forcing many to spend the day without proper meals.
The shortage also affected school going children, many of whom were unable to attend classes. Sick residents reportedly faced difficulties taking medication on empty stomachs.
Frustrated by the situation, residents launched a protest on Monday saying conditions remained unchanged by Tuesday morning.
Hundreds Living in Temporary Shelters
Around 277 people from 65 families have been residing in temporary tents at the holding center for nearly two months after the government cleared squatter settlements along riverbanks in the Kathmandu Valley, promising long term housing solutions.
Until recently, residents had been receiving regular meals through food packages supplied by Radhaswami Satsang or meal services arranged by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
Metropolis Blames Management Transition
Kathmandu Metropolitan City described the disruption as a temporary issue caused by a transition in food management.
Metropolitan spokesperson Nabin Manandhar said the city had been providing breakfast, lunch and dinner regularly and claimed the interruption resulted from a brief management gap.
He assured that the metropolis would continue supporting the displaced families as long as they remained at the holding center and until permanent housing arrangements were secured.
According to the metropolis, responsibility for the families’ long term rehabilitation rests with the federal government.
Conflicting Claims Over Food Distribution
While the metropolis suggested that Radhaswami Satsang was responsible for food distribution, officials at the ashram offered a different account.
An employee at the ashram said Radhaswami had provided food only during the initial days after the families arrived and stopped after the metropolitan city assumed management responsibilities.
“After the metropolitan city took over responsibility for managing the center, we stopped providing food. We have no information about the current situation,” the employee said.
The conflicting statements have left residents uncertain about when regular food distribution will resume, raising growing concerns over the welfare of children, elderly residents and those requiring medical care at the holding center.
