Acute shortage of food in far west hills

DOTI, May 19: Even after the end of an indefinite general strike that crippled normal in the hills districts of far-west region for 21 days, shortage of daily necessities, including foods, continues due to the ongoing strikes in the Tarai districts. 

Trucks carrying food meant for hilly districts like Doti, Achham and Bajura have been stranded in the Tarai districts due to yet another strike called by the Tharuhat Struggle Committee (TSC). The indefinite strike called by the locals demanding an undivided Far West state was called off on Thursday. But, the TSC immediately announced another strike targeting Kailali and Kanchanpur districts until May 22. 

"Markets have opened after the withdrawal of the region-wide strike, but traders have run out of food stocks," said Dharma Rokaya, general secretary of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Bajura. 

"Many hotels have shut down here due to food shortage," said Birendra Malla, owner of Daju-Bhai hotel in Bajura. "We have also stopped our service. Most of hotels are not even in a position to serve tea." 

Chief District Officer (CDO) of Achham Ram Bahadur Kurumbang said, "We are trying to import food into hill districts by providing security to trucks." 

Meanwhile, according to Republica correspondent Amar Khadka, TSC cadres vandalized two vehicles carrying patients in Itahari on Saturday. The windowpanes of a jeep (Ko 1 ja 1072) carrying a patient from Bajho VDC of Ilam were smashed just 300 meters away from Area Police Office, Itahari. Kesrani Yonghang, 79, an ulcer patient, was being taken to hospital in the jeep. 

"The banda enforcers did not even spare us," said Aindra Subba, one of relatives of Kesrani, said. 

Similarly, banda enforcers vandalized an Indian vehicle (B.R. 10 M. 1808) carrying a patient from Supaul of Bihar. The vehicle was taking Debrani Yadav, 55, to BPIKIHS hospital in Dharan. Yadav, who was visibly suffering from asthma, was left on the road throughout the day after the banda enforcers vandalized the vehicle.