Rukum West /Jajarkot: On Friday night, a truck loaded with relief materials sent from Kathmandu to the earthquake epicenter Jajarkot disappeared from the route to Salyan. The goods were missing, but on Wednesday, in the Rukum West’s Athbis Kot Municipality, the same truck, dispatched from Kathmandu, arrived to distribute the relief. It is said that local representatives have forcefully taken control of the truck and changed its route under the direction of former finance minister and Maoist leader Janardan Sharma.

Sharma’s style has been described as bullying and bullying in all of his works. Even as a minister, he was pressured into changing tax rates by the agents of close dealers. Sharma avoided the probe by destroying the CCTV tape.

Former finance minister Janardan Sharma, who has been a minister four times, is active in the earthquake-affected Jajarkot and limited to his constituency in Rukum West.

Relief is being distributed based on the need for public assistance. Allegations have been made that political influence is being used to show the political presence where relief distribution should be based on the need. Chandra Prakash Gharti, the chief of Bheri Municipality, which is heavily affected by the earthquake in Jajarkot, has said that relief was not being provided transparently. He added that even though there is more damage in Jajarkot due to the earthquake.

Wherever the relief is received, the victims do not make any complaints. Still, it is alleged that political revenge is being carried out, making the earthquake victims more vulnerable. “The government should distribute relief transparently and fairly, and everyone should receive relief based on need. However, it is being distributed secretly and overnight,” he told Nepalpage. After the party leaders express their confidence in relief, Bheri Municipality has also actively involved its disaster management committee, besides the one-door system, besides the district’s own disaster management committee.

On Wednesday, a truck sent by the organisation ‘Gift Asia’ for Jajarkot also diverted to Rukum West for food. “The earthquake victims in Jajarkot have not received enough blankets,” said Shukra Sharma, a resident of Bheri Municipality. “Even the relief that has arrived here is being used for political pressure.”

The earthquake has severely affected many wards of Bheri Municipality, including district headquarters in Jajarkot. Most of the makeshift houses in several wards of Jajarkot, such as Khulchauli, Kadke, Tatta, Karuwa, and Kusheko Samaila, have been displaced due to the earthquake that occurred 6 days ago. People are compelled to spend the night in temporary shelters.

In Bheri, which has 13 wards, there are 14,997 displaced individuals from 3,534 households. However, currently, only 2,855 tents and 3,930 blankets are available. Some earthquake victims are having to share blankets, with four members of a family using one blanket.

In Jajarkot, the distribution of relief materials has been adversely affected due to a shortage of transportation. The District Traffic Police’s record shows that more than 50 vehicles were dispatched daily to transport relief materials from the godown of the Disaster Management Committee in Khalanga, Jajarkot. Most of the essential relief materials are in short supply.

According to the government’s decision, the District Disaster Management Committees were supposed to distribute relief through a centralised system. However, the distribution is currently taking place based on the political influence and reach of Maoist leader Sharma. The relief items are going through a public contribution to those in need.

The earthquake, which has its epicenter in Ramaidanda of Barre Rural Municipality-1, Jajarkot, has not received relief materials. Haribahadur Gharti of Sirpaucha Rural Municipality-1, Barre, has been surviving on only boiled nettle for the last five days. Six members of his family are living in his completely shattered house. Although the earthquake has caused damage in the nearby Rukum district, the victims there have received tents, but the earthquake victims have not received tarps.

Bir Bahadur Giri, Chairman of Barre Rural Municipality, has not received any additional relief materials in the affected villages of Jajarkot so far. Out of 430 affected households in Barre, only 380 blankets and 300 tarps have reached them. “Until now, the earthquake victims have not received relief,” he said. “The victims are forced to live in the open fields or under ‘old bora’ (storage houses for grains) and tunnels, which are freezing.” According to Giri, the situation is not favorable for the earthquake victims to receive relief until now, as he has seen the situation with his own eyes in Rukum, which is nearby.

Leaders are engaging in vote politics, even as Sharma is distributing relief. “The relief has gone based on the influence of leaders, as the Congress Jajarkot district president Khadak BC said. He mentioned, “From ward chairs to central leaders are busy distributing relief.” He said, “During a crisis, politics should not be involved in government and public relief, but that is what is happening here, the leaders are capitalizing on the current influence to win the upcoming elections.”

Maoist leader and former Finance Minister Sharma mentioned that relief sent by India is being distributed, as well as what the government has provided, and what he has collected. He said, “What has been sent by the government has also been distributed. Some relief material sent by India has arrived, and the government has also distributed five thousand sacks. I have also collected and distributed relief.” However, he accused that the relief sent to Jajarkot has been stopped in his own election area. He said, “Who said this? The government should be replied about this.”

Moreover, Assistant Chief District Officer of Jajarkot Harishchandra Sharma said that very little relief had arrived, and much was still needed. He said, “There is a severe shortage of food, oil, meat, and rice, among other items. The distribution of very necessary materials like blankets, tarpaulins, and rice is also insufficient.”

Local residents of Bheri have alleged that Rajendra Bahadur Shah has kept relief for his political dominance and cheap popularity. They demand immediate relief materials for all those affected. In Aathbis Kot, around 3,136 households have received various relief materials, including 3121 tri-pals, 112 metric tons of rice, 300 tons of lentils, approximately 900 blankets, 600 carpets, and 100 fiber circles. Ravi KC, the chairman of the municipality, stated, “Immediate food and shelter materials are available for the affected.”

According to him, the local levels from 9 to 14 wards of the municipality have received 31,936 tri-pals, 112 metric tons of rice, 300 tons of lentils, and around 900 blankets. He said, “We have immediately provided food and shelter materials for immediate needs.” However, the locals in Sanibheri municipality mentioned that only a small amount of items have arrived, and they have requested the necessary plans for a long-term solution for solving long-term problems.

Similarly, in Sanibheri municipality, Bir Bahadur BK, the chairman, said that relief had been distributed to about 2,500 households severely affected by the earthquake. He said, “We are currently working on a long-term solution to address long-term problems.”

According to the District Administration Office’s administrative officer Harichandra Sharma, it has been reported that relief has not yet reached the majority of households in Jajarkot. He mentioned that there is still no relief in the Kushe and Junichande rural municipalities. The epicenter of the earthquake is Barekot Rural Municipality in Jajarkot, and even the affected people in RamiDaanda of the municipality have not received relief yet.

Approximately 24,000 houses have suffered partial damage, according to him. “In our district, around 80% of the population lives outside their homes, and due to the fear of the earthquake, even the locals are not sleeping inside their homes,” he said. “We have only been able to provide partial relief so far.” According to him, among the approximately 33,000 affected houses in the Jajarkot district, only about 15,000 households have received relief.

The earthquake has affected a total of 179,893 people in 34,501 households in Jajarkot. In the district, 7 local levels have completely abandoned 9,974 households. 24,707 households have suffered partial damage. The information collected by the Disaster Management Committee shows that the relief distributed through local levels up to the ward level has not been recorded yet. This was mentioned by Prajia Sharma, an assistant at the disaster management committee.