Freedom Forum has provided various forms of support to journalists severely affected by the Rasuwa-Bhotekoshi flood on August 26. The support aims to help them resume their professional work and continue reporting safely.
The support was provided based on a needs assessment conducted among affected journalists and the families of victim journalists. With support from Free Press Unlimited under the Reporters Respond program, FF has been providing reporting fellowships, livelihood assistance and equipment support according to the needs of the affected journalists and their families.
Two-month reporting fellowships were provided to journalists Kiran Adhikari and Sunny Shrestha to help them continue their journalism profession. They also received power banks and laptops as equipment support. Both journalists lost their homes and properties in the flood.
Receiving the support, journalist Adhikari said it would be very helpful in reviving his media outlet, Sundaradevi Sandesh weekly and carrying out field reporting. Similarly, Shrestha, a multimedia journalist at Lokpath Online and Nuwakot Online, said he had also lost his laptop and camera in the flood and that the equipment support would be very useful for continuing his reporting.
“I will try my best to bring in-depth reporting from the field as much as possible,” Shrestha said.
Journalists Bidhya Rajput and Nirajan Paudyal were also provided with equipment support, including laptops and power banks. Paudyal, a reporter at Ratopati Online, has been continuously reporting on the plight of flood victims and government interventions in the affected areas. The support is intended to encourage him to continue in-depth and investigative reporting on issues that remain unheard and unseen.
Rajput said the support was an important relief for both journalists and that such recognition and encouragement motivates them to continue their work.
“I will bring more in-depth reporting on the post-disaster challenges facing communities, their rehabilitation and resettlement,” Paudyal said.
Journalist Maya Shrestha was also provided with a laptop to encourage her to resume her journalism career. Former reporter at Ratopati.com, Shrestha had stopped working after birth of her younger child. She subsequently lost her husband, Nikesh Shrestha, in the Rasuwa-Bhotekoshi flood on August 26.
“I had to stop working a few months ago after birth of my younger child and then this disaster took away my husband. However, I will continue my journalism career. I am determined to resume reporting. Thanks to Freedom Forum! They asked me what kind of support I needed and, as per my request, provided me with a laptop. This will be very helpful for me to work from home while taking care of my children,” Maya Shrestha said.
Livelihood support was provided to Sanu Darji, father of journalist Raj Kumar Nepali, who has been missing since the Rasuwa-Bhotekoshi flood. During a field visit, Darji shared that among his four sons, Raj Kumar was his only source of livelihood and support.
FF also provided livelihood support to Swaroop Dhungana, son of journalist Shekhar Dhungana. Swaroop and his younger brother lost both their parents and grandparents in the flood.
Similarly, journalist Shiva Devkota was provided with transportation support and power bank. Devkota lost his motorcycle in the flood. The support will help him travel to affected areas to collect information and continue his reporting. Other local journalists Sharan Sapkota (Trishuli Prabaha), Shri Ram Adhikari (Nuwakot FM), Ram Hari Neupane (Radio Chimteshwor) also received powerbanks as support to operate media without interruption.
Each of these forms of support was provided based on needs identified by affected journalists and their families in Nuwakot district.
Freedom Forum stands in solidarity with flood-affected journalists and media professionals and remains committed to supporting them, encouraging their resilience and helping them continue their work in the public interest.
