The mother of missing Durban woman Terricia Govender says she is devastated by Nepal’s decision to end its official search and rescue operation following the floods that struck the country in August.
Nepal’s government announced on Monday that active search and rescue efforts would be called off, with authorities shifting their focus towards reconstruction and rehabilitation.
The decision comes 40 days after the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river floods caused widespread destruction along the river corridors. Authorities say hopes of finding survivors have now faded.
According to Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, 1,455 people have been confirmed dead, while 5,285 remain missing following the disaster.
Among those still unaccounted for are several South African nationals, including 33-year-old Terricia Govender from Isipingo Beach in Durban.
Also missing are Ladysmith couple Surendranath Maharaj, 74, and Anita Devi Maharaj, 67; East London woman Bavila Ramjee, 43; and South African couple Vivaganathan Pillay, 66, and Janet Pillay, 56.
Nepali authorities said the decision to end the active search followed recommendations from district security and disaster management committees, as well as the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority and field inspections.
The head of Nepal’s National Emergency Operation Centre said authorities were also considering the legal process required to declare missing people dead, allowing families to proceed with insurance claims and other legal matters.
For Terricia’s mother, Linda Govender, however, the announcement offers no sense of closure.
“It is heartbreaking because we have already been living with uncertainty for so long. Every day I wake up not knowing where my daughter is or what happened to her.”
Linda said ending the official search does not change her determination to find her daughter.
“To be told that the official search is ending does not give me closure because I have nothing to close. Terricia is my daughter. She is not a case number or a statistic.”
She said she would continue searching for Terricia and demanding answers, regardless of the Nepalese government’s decision.
Linda has also appealed to the South African government to intervene through diplomatic channels and assist families who are struggling to obtain information.
She said several questions surrounding her daughter’s disappearance remain unanswered.
Nepal’s government said the focus would now shift to rebuilding communities and infrastructure affected by the floods and other monsoon-related disasters.
A preliminary Rapid Disaster Needs Assessment estimates that the disaster caused physical damage worth about NPR 274.48 billion, with total losses and damages reaching approximately NPR 408.28 billion.
The assessment indicates that more than NPR 723 billion could be required for reconstruction and recovery.
The government has also proposed a budget of NPR 559.18 billion for 504 reconstruction and rehabilitation programmes.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah said disaster response efforts had involved cooperation between federal, provincial and local authorities, and that the same approach would be used during the reconstruction phase.
Nepal’s government expressed condolences to those who lost their lives and thanked security personnel, officials, volunteers, private organisations, media workers, donor countries and development partners involved in the rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.
For Linda, however, the search for her daughter is far from over.
“I will continue fighting for Terricia. I am not asking the world to look away. I am asking the people who have the power, to act.”