Monsoon hindering removal of rotten rice from areas hit by quake

DPAKathmanduThe World Food Programme (WFP) was facing difficulties removing rotten rice from quake-affected villages in Nepal due to bad weather, the organisation said yesterday, as residents complained of an “unbearable stench.” The WFP came under fire from the government after local authorities reported that rice distributed by the organization was found to be of bad quality or rotten in some places. “We have been trying to remove the sacks but because of the bad weather, our helicopters could not land,” WFP spokeswomanIolanda Jaquemet said. “Trucks are now on their way from Barpak to Laprak, carrying rice to replace the 120 bags of damaged rice previously delivered to Laprak. The damaged rice was initially kept in Laprak at the request of the Parliamentary Commission of Enquiry, whose members wanted to examine them on location.” Jaquemet said the WFP had been unable to remove the rice in spite of repeated attempts because helicopters had not been able to fly due to bad weather, while the road was blocked by a landslide. The food problems first came into light in May, when children in Kavre district fell sick after consuming rice distributed by WFP. WFP has employed porters where possible to reach the people in isolated mountain regions. “We are working with the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal and Nepal Mountaineering Association, employing well over 20,000 porters, with the intent to restore livelihoods to people who lost their income due to the abrupt end of the trekking season.” The results of the investigation into the distribution of substandard food are pending. “We will be in a position to take further action only after we receive a detailed report from the interior minister,” the foreign ministry said.