The Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) has urged the government to ensure humane treatment of citizens who have been evicted from various informal settlements in Kathmandu and placed in holding centers.
According to a statement signed by INSEC Chairperson Bijay Raj Gautam, monitoring conducted by INSEC in the holding centers found that citizens are facing a lack of adequate shelter, sanitation, healthcare services, safe drinking water, and sufficient food. The statement notes that forced displacement has directly affected the right to housing of the impacted communities, as well as their employment and livelihoods, and children’s access to education and healthcare. It further highlights that losing one’s home and shelter is not merely a physical loss, but also deeply affects an individual’s social networks, sense of security, and human dignity.
The statement also calls on the government to develop clear policies, legal frameworks, and institutional mechanisms for a just resolution of the informal settlement issue. It urges prioritization of senior citizens, women, children, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized communities, ensuring the protection of their rights, safety, and their specific conditions and needs.