Families staying in the holding center at Training Center of Nepal Red Cross Society located in Budol, Banepa Municipality–6, have been forced to survive on puffed rice, snacks, and food purchased using borrowed money after the government stopped providing food services from July 6, 2026. Although the government has been pressurizing residents to vacate the holding center, those who are unable to make arrangement for themselves have continued to live in the center.
Mina Majhi a 51- years- old woman, who has been living at the holding center, said that the government was earlier providing for food which stopped from July 6,2026. According to her earlier the government provided tea and biscuits in the morning, meals twice a day, and an afternoon snack.”Now there is no food arrangement for us,” Majhi said. “We survive on snacks like beaten rice, and occasionally chapatis. We have no money and have to borrow just to eat. We are also unable to make our living.” Originally from Morang, Majhi previously lived in Kathmandu’s Manohara settlement. She said that around 15 families are currently living at the holding center. Since most residents lack regular source of income, daily survival has become even more difficult after the suspension of food supply.
A woman, who requested to remain unidentified, said that the government has been pressurizing them to leave the holding center. She further said “Those who could make alternative arrangements elsewhere have already left. Those who couldn’t are still here. But now we are also being pressurized to leave.” She added that she recently had to send her daughter to live with relatives so she could continue her education. “My husband works in a garment factory and stays there. The money provided by the government was just enough to enroll my daughter in school, but I still have nowhere else to stay except here.”
According to Bhagwati Adhikari, an activist advocating for the rights of displaced landless squatters, “Money was collected through personal donations to provide food for the landless squatters for about a week.” “But this isn’t a sustainable solution. The government should take responsibility keeping this mind our colleagues accompanied the displaced families in Banepa. The officials were surprised that people were still staying at the holding center only after which they began to prepare a list. They also started pressurizing the remaining residents to leave.”
According to Khagendra Bista, Spokesperson and Sociologist at the High-Powered Committee for Integrated Development of Bagmati Civilization under the Ministry of Urban Development, the Cabinet had decided to provide displaced people with NPR 25,000 and three-months’ rent as support for the purpose of their complete reintegration.
In order to implement the decision, a notice was issued for the first time on June 23, 2026 instructing residents to vacate the holding centers. Since all the applications pertaining to relief had not been completely received the deadline was further extended until July 3, 2026. During the extension period staff visited holding centers to collect applications.
After the completion of application collection process both written and verbal notices were issued directing the residents to leave the holding center. In compliance with the the directions, food services at the centers were discontinued from July 6, 2026.
Machakaji Maharjan, Project Chief of the Committee, said that the committee itself did not make any arrangements for food supply. “We stopped food services July 6 2026 onwards. At the Radhaswami Holding Center located in Kirtipur, meals were provided by Kathmandu Metropolitan City. The residents at Radhaswami Holding Center have now been moved to the Bode and Kharipati holding centers, the support for food services is continued to be provided.”
He further added “At Ichangu Narayan, there are elderly and people with disability arrangements have been made in close coordination with the Manavsewa Ashram. At present, we are not providing food or drinking water at any holding center.”
The suspension of food services has directly impacted the families living at the centers.
“Efforts are being taken to support elderly and people with health issues through close coordination with Manavsewa Ashram. Managing these issues is getting difficult since most of the people living in the holding centers have families living elsewhere, but they are unwilling to leave the holding centers,” Maharjan said.