Struggling to Recover: "I Just Hope for a Small Place to Call Home"

[Anchor]

Recovery efforts are gradually gaining momentum in Nepal, which was swept by devastating floods. However, victims who lost their livelihoods overnight find themselves in desperate circumstances regarding their immediate future.

SBS correspondent Choi Go-un reports from the scene in Nepal.

[Reporter]

The mud covering the village has now hardened enough for cars to carefully pass through.

In front of a house that collapsed tragically, exposing its bare framework, only a photo of a once-happy family remains, while a ritual for the dead and missing is held along the riverbank.

[Rinzin Tamang : Because we believe in past lives and reincarnation, we prayed that they will be born in a truly good place in their next life.]

The shelters, once crowded with people, are now largely empty.

As life in the shelters dragged on, many left to find places to stay, such as with relatives.

Those who are facing financial hardship or need medical care remain, sustaining their lives with the help of relief organizations and the government.

Displaced residents who have returned to their destroyed villages try to salvage anything they can by washing away the thick mud covering their belongings.

[Prim Ramichani / Hardware Store Owner : Everything was washed away. Still, since the items that survived can be reused, we are cleaning, washing, drying them thoroughly, and getting them ready to sell.]

While small recovery steps are underway, such as preparations to build temporary bridges where spans were washed out, there is no telling when the homes desired by the displaced residents will be provided.

[Sujan Tamang / Flood Victim : I don't think we can live here anymore. I just hope we can get a small, modest temporary shelter. As for making a living, I can manage by doing odd jobs.]

The Nepalese government estimated that physical damages, including power plants and houses, amount to 2.4 trillion won, with reconstruction costing 6 trillion won.

The South Korean government relief team has stepped up to provide support, including delivering medical supplies to prevent the spread of disease after the floods.

[Kim Byung-chul / KOICA Dispatch Doctor : Diseases could break out, and there might be people with certain conditions who need specific medications. There might also be pregnant women, and I think maternal and child health support could be necessary for them.]

In addition, there are plans to examine areas where assistance can be provided, ranging from health and education support to the establishment of early disaster warning systems.

(Video by Cho Chang-hyun and Yang Ji-hoon | Video Editing by Cho Mu-hwan)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.