The plight of the families evicted at Bhajani and Kusum Khola is similarly distressing. In Bhajani, more than a hundred families forcibly evicted from the community forest area in June last year were compelled to continue living in the same site in makeshift tents because they had nowhere to go. At the same time, the District Forest Office was proceeding with fencing and planting trees as per their unilateral plan, regardless of the impact on the forcibly evicted communities.106 Some affected individuals reported being exposed to and experiencing recurring fear of multiple hazards such as monsoon rains, snake bites and mosquito-borne diseases.107 The makeshift tents the families were living in were made from tarpaulins, sticks, and salvaged materials. The shelters observed were extremely fragile and offered little protection against the harsh monsoon rains. Residents described how they slept in wet bedding and struggled to keep food and clothes dry. Without robust shelter, they were at increased risk of snake bites and other threats from wildlife; they had no effective measures to protect themselves. For many, especially children, the elderly and people with disabilities, the situation became a daily fight for safety, dignity, and survival. Their poor living conditions not only violated their right to adequate housing but also exposed them to continuous harm and insecurity. Similar precarious living conditions are experienced by the 10 families evicted from Kusum Khola in 2020. Authorities confirm108 that although they were recently resettled to other areas including riverbanks, nearly five years later, they still live in makeshift tents in areas prone to flooding.

106 Field observation, 13 July 2024, Bhajani, Kailali.

107 In-person group discussion with evictees, 13 July 2024, Bhajani, Kailali.

108 Interview by voice call with Ganga Bhandari, Ward Secretary of Ward 9, Madi Municipality, May 15, 2025.

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