The country is currently facing a crisis in the form of natural calamity. Monsoon mayhem has hit hard the country as floods, landslides and inundation in different parts of the nation left the victims in tatters. About 15 people have been killed and 16 injured and several have gone missing in many districts as floods and landslides have also posed a threat to public and private properties, infrastructures such as roads, power transmission lines, communication and drinking water facilities. Several people have lost land, houses, cattle and other belongings after torrential monsoon rains lashed several districts. As such, many people are turned homeless and displaced and are in want of essential wherewithal to survive the worst natural disaster in decades.

As the monsoon continues to wreak havoc and the victims find it increasingly difficult to deal with the sudden loss of their belongings, the government has decided to provide relief in a well-coordinated, one-door system. This is a praiseworthy move on the part of our government. With a focus on proper relief distribution and rehabilitation of the victims, the Ministry of Home Affairs has directed the concerned authorities such as NDRRMA and district administration offices to distribute essential relief items to the flood and landslide victims and affected families. For providing immediate relief to the victims, who have lost their homes and are displaced, the ministry has asked these bodies to provide Rs. 20,000 to each family having more than five members and Rs. 15,000 to those families with up to five members. Though the relief cash amounts appear to be negligible, it would provide much-needed immediate help to those who need food and makeshift shelters.

The government has maintained several disaster management funds, which will come in handy in the disbursement of relief to the needy people. According to the ministry, Rs. 999.1 million has been maintained at the disaster management fund at all 77 districts while the National Disaster Management Fund headed by the Home Minister has Rs. 1.30 billion. Similarly, the Central Disaster Relief Fund, chaired by the Prime Minister has Rs. 4.14 billion. All these funds are meant to be mobilised to deal with natural calamities in the country and to provide timely relief to the victims.

As the meteorologists and climate change, experts say that Nepal is at the receiving end of intense rainfalls and other forms of disasters, our authorities - from local to the central levels, would do well if they keep themselves quite prepared to deal with such eventualities. They also need to mobilise resources and funds for the rescue, relief and rehabilitation of the victims of disasters such as the present ones. Providing timely relief is what all the victims of natural disasters need. Since Nepal is one of the major natural disaster-prone nations in the world, our authority must work to mobilise its domestic and international connection to acquire funds and resources to deal with all forms of natural disasters. More funds and resources at its disposal would, without doubt, allow our authority to have a better opportunity to prepare itself to negotiate with any form of catastrophes and to provide the required relief and support to the victims in time.