MAR-APR 2021 | Vol. 83 | .UN.ORG | UN.INFO.NP

Quarter of Nepalis Still Hungry During Pandemic A year into the Covid-19 crisis, Nepalis have more food but still suffer under-nutrition

From RC’s Desk

epal is at a critical juncture. Hospitals in N major cities are at capacity and have even needed to turn patients away. In this time of crisis, the UN supports and will continue to support Nepali in the response to COVID-19. The Prime Minister and I had a meeting, where we discussed how the UN can even further intensify efforts to support the country’s COVID-19 response. The Prime Minister called for our Nepal, April 12 — (UN-WFP) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, with support for procuring essential health epalis continue to suffer support from the Australian government. commodities but to also facilitate from pandemic-induced It is the third in a series of nationwide stronger psychosocial support food insecurity even as N surveys to assess the impact of Covid-19 services for the public. Nepal sees the first signs of the second on household food security in Nepal. The wave of Covid-19. I visited Teku Hospital and my heart first two rounds were conducted in April, broke as I saw people being treated A new report released last week shows and August 2020. that 16.8% of households have outside the hospital due to lack of The survey covered 4,416 households inadequate food consumption, and space inside. However, I am from all seven provinces, and was nearly 2.7% had insufficient food stock to comforted by the fact that we are all collected through live telephone meet their needs, 43% of children doing everything we can to make interviews. between 6-23 months did not meet the sure that this does not continue. We minimum recommended dietary needs. The highest prevalence of food are working with the Government insecurity, as measured by poor The survey was conducted in December and the Humanitarian community to nutrition, was found in Karnali Province, 2020 by the UN World Food Programme accounting for 4.7% of households,

UN Nepal Newsletter

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respond to the crisis. In this edition, we learn of the efforts of the UN in the past two months including on the receipt of the first consignment of the COVID-19 vaccine doses through the COVID-19 COVAX facility; IOM’s effort at the Indo-Nepal border entry points; and UNHCHR’s successful advocacy for refugees to be included in the national vaccine programmes amongst others. Though these months have been challenging, the UN has proven its ability to provide a timely and effective response during crisis. The humanitarian cluster system has followed by Province 2 (3.8%), Gandaki Easing of restrictions and opening of (2.7%) and Sudurpaschim (2.5%). economic activities, as well as recently been activated and the UN is harvested summer crops and assistance providing support across the country Families have adopted negative livelihood from various government and aid in responding to this second wave of coping strategies to address food agencies, are likely the reasons for the the pandemic. shortages such as borrowing money, improvement in food security. harvesting immature crops, selling Please, take care of yourselves and livestock, household assets, or even However, analysis of the survey data your family members. Please, follow house and property. shows that there is a deepening of food the procedures for staying safe – insecurity in areas that are chronically The good news is that the food security using a mask, maintaining physical more vulnerable like western Nepal. situation has been gradually improving, distance and frequently wash your with a smaller proportion of households In fact, more households remain food hands/ use sanitizer. consuming inadequate diets in December insecure during the pandemic than five 2020 compared to August and April 2020. years ago. In December 2020, 17% of More than 3 out of 4 respondents households had inadequate food reported having food stocks, of which consumption, but in December nearly 50% had more than one month’s 2016 the figure was 15%. worth of food stock. In the survey, households with Pandemic offers chance to revive low education levels, a farming, Krishna Paudel chronically ill member, female- headed households, and “The findings from the survey indicate households living in rural areas gradual improvements in terms of the were found to be more food impact of the Covid-19 crisis on food insecure. security and livelihoods. Yet, the aggravated conditions persist and Similarly, loss of income was the continue to affect Nepali households,” largest among large and medium states the report. traders (48%), remittance recipient families (46%), followed “The impact of the Covid-19 crisis on job by daily wage labourers in loss and income reduction remains agriculture and cash crop notable and can further put pressure on producers (33%). A total of 25% income generation and livelihoods. Such of non-agriculture daily wage prolonged exposure to adversary labourers reported having a loss conditions, together with the upcoming of income source followed by lean season, can, in turn, lead to further 11.6% agriculture-related daily risk of food insecurity.” wage labourer. ***

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Nepal Among the First Countries in South Asia to Receive COVAX Shipment ***

Kathmandu, March 7 — availability. Under the first COVAX UN Resident Coordinator for Nepal Ms. Sara allocation, the COVAX Facility will deliver epal received its first Beysolow Nyanti handing over the first 1.92 million vaccine doses to Nepal by the consignment of COVID-19 consignment of COVAX at Tribhuvan end of May 2021, in support of the International Airport in Kathmandu to vaccine doses shipped N Government of Nepal’s nation-wide Honourable Minister for Health and Population through the COVAX Facility, a partnership vaccination campaign. Mr. Hridayesh Tripathi. between CEPI, Gavi, UNICEF and WHO, made possible through generous donor COVAX-supported vaccines provide a Photo: WHO support from governments, international critical contribution to the Government of organizations, foundations and the private Nepal’s National Deployment and sector. Vaccination Plan (NDVP) target to of Health and Population, His Excellency vaccinate roughly 22 million people, The first COVAX shipment containing Hridayesh Tripathi, in welcoming the among them refugees, migrant returnees 348,000 doses of AstraZeneca ‘Covishield’ global COVAX contribution to Nepal’s and other migrant populations. With the vaccines manufactured by the Serum COVID-19 vaccination efforts at Tribhuvan generous contribution of the Government Institute of India (SII), together with International Airport in Kathmandu. of India, Nepal was able to commence the 350,000 syringes and 3500 vaccine safety vaccination campaign and to date, Development partners congratulated boxes arrived in Kathmandu before being 429,705 people have been vaccinated. Nepal for being among the first countries distributed to provinces and municipalities in the world to have launched COVID-19 across the country. The COVAX Facility is generously funded vaccination efforts in January 2021. They by partner governments, including the The delivery of COVAX-procured vaccines reiterated their solidarity with Nepal, as Governments of Australia, Finland, France, to Nepal is part of a historic step towards exemplified by the arrival of the first Germany, Japan, Korea, Norway, Qatar, ensuring equitable distribution of COVID- COVAX vaccine contribution. Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the United 19 vaccines globally, in what will be the Kingdom, the United States and the View story online: https://www.who.int/ largest vaccine procurement and supply European Union as well as foundations nepal/news/detail/07-03-2021-nepal- operation in history. and corporations. among-the-first-countries-in-asia-to- The goal of the COVAX Facility is to supply receive-covid-19-vaccines-from-covax- Representatives of the COVAX technical Nepal with enough doses to vaccinate 20% facility and funding partners joined the Minister of the population depending on funding

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Entry Points – Block the Virus but Ensure a Humane Movement

Kathmandu, April 9 — second week of April, while it is Nepalese migrant returnees from India in queue for health screening at Gauriphanta believed that many migrants use Many staffers of the hotel in entry point on 9 April 2021. unofficial routes to avoid long queue Delhi, India where I was Photo: IOM and health screening process at the “ working started testing official points. COVID-19 positive. We were told we were not required to work at the Nepal shares a 1770 km long open During the process over 800 hotel anymore,” said Resham land border with India. Nepal’s individuals were consulted through Dawadi, 37, from Kailali district of COVID-19 Crisis Management Center face to face interviews and 45 focus Sudurpashchim province. “The hotel (CCMC) on 30 April has decided to group discussions which includes owner had promised to pay my shut all the border points with India local communities alongside the remaining salary but every time I except 13 of the 35 entry points. local authorities. called him for it he had all excuses to International Organization for The PMM has come up with few make. So, rather than catching the Migration (IOM) has assisted in recommendations which requires virus while waiting for the money, I establishing health desk urgent attention: decided to leave,” he said. Resham infrastructure and supplies at was seen queueing at Gauriphanta 1. Establish health screening various PoE locations. point of entry (PoE) of Kanchanpur stations at PoEs as well as all district for health screening Earlier in August to October 2020, other priority locations with high conducted by the Nepalese health IOM conducted Population Mobility population mobility such as officials around mid-April. Mapping (PMM) exercise in total of transport stations, market and nine municipalities of Provinces 1, entertainment centers and With recent surge in COVID-19 cases and Sudurpashchim with places of worship. in India, a huge number of Nepalese the aim to understand population migrants are returning home mainly 2. Set up mechanism to record and dynamics and identify the priority through the land border points. Most track people’s movement, communities and locations that are of the entry points have recorded especially their origin and at higher risk of potential spread of return of around 400 to 700 destination at PoEs and diseases and other health threats as migrants per day since around transport stations. The a direct result of human mobility.

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information is indispensable to understand the ground reality in Nepalese migrant returnees arriving at trace any affected case, in the terms of POE operation, challenges Gauriphata entry point on 9 April 2021. event of an outbreak. and needs assessment and also to Photo: IOM coordinate for the establishment of 3. Invest in capacity building of health desk. This also assessed the health infrastructure. overall situation of the 4. Focus on awareness raising infrastructures, availability of human activities among communities resources, medical logistics and to COVID-19” conducted in August – and authorities as they lack capacity of the available human September 2020, about 200,000 knowledge of potential risks of resources in terms of screening and Nepali migrant workers in India infectious disease such as COVID managing health desks. This were reported to have returned to -19 and preventive measures for assessment helped to revise the Nepal just before the national transmission. previously approved health desk lockdown enforced in March 2020. 5. Conduct capacity building prototype and establish at various The Ministry of Home Affairs activities for health, immigration locations. reported that 700,000 migrants returned home from India during the and security officials designated Similarly, IOM, in coordination with lockdown, with thousands stranded at PoEs and leadership training concerned departments of the at the Nepal-India border. The report for traditional healers in order to Ministry of Health and Population, also indicates that the majority of enhance their health practices. has developed a one-day orientation returnee migrant workers from IOM, jointly with the Epidemiology session plan with orientation India were residents of Karnali and and Disease Control Division of the materials for frontline workers at Sudurpashchim provinces, where Health Ministry, carried out PoEs targeting both health and non- there is desperation in livelihoods as feasibility assessment between health officials such as immigration, the economic conditions in these August to December 2020, in all 14 security and custom officials. regions are generally precarious. identified POEs by the government Orientation sessions will be rolled for entry and exit of travelers across out as soon as the situation eases. *** the border. This feasibility According to an IOM study “Status of assessment was carried out to Nepali migrant workers in relation

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Reaching the Unreached: COVID-19 Vaccinations in Jumla Health workers reflect on the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccinations in Nepal’s far-western region, and the role of the cold chain – strengthened with UNICEF support – in bringing vaccines to remote communities

Jumla, March 7 — traffic from outside, the possibility – COVID 19 vaccine transporting from and the fear – of an outbreak was to Jumla. anda Lal Rawat has always there, particularly as spent his entire life in Photo: UNICEF community members who were remote Kankasundari in N working in countries like India Jumla District in Nepal’s far-western began to head back home. region. And he’s not the first in his with healthworkers given first family to have done so. “There was so much uncertainty at priority, Nanda’s relief and pride the time about the disease, with all “We have been here for so many knew no bounds. kinds of rumours going around, generations, I couldn’t tell you how “Being put in the first priority group creating panic and anxiety,” Nanda far back it goes,” he says. made me feel like our efforts and says. He and his team worked to sacrifices as health workers was Such a deep-rooted connection to allay these fears and concerns as far being recognized,” he says. “I felt this place and its people was a big as they could with the information very validated.” part of what had led him to become a they had, and kept up maximum healthworker. Today, he is the in- vigilance towards new arrivals. Having gotten vaccinated himself, charge at the Malikabota Health Post Nanda was eager to see vaccines Fortunately, Kankasundari has so far in Kankasundari, where he works reach the community. On 7 March, been spared the brunt of the with his team to provide essential the second phase of the campaign pandemic – not a single case of health services to the community. began, targeting elderly persons COVID-19 has been seen in the area. over the age of 65. With this, Nanda That role became all the more Still, Nanda says it’s important not to and his team leapt immediately into important when the COVID-19 be complacent. “We know that if an action, pushing out PSAs through pandemic began its spread around outbreak happens here, it will be loudspeakers, mobilizing female the country in early 2020. Although very difficult to contain,” he says. Kankasundari’s geographic isolation community health volunteers to go And so, when the Government of initially appeared to work to its door to door with messages, even Nepal launched the vaccination advantage, limiting as it did foot calling eligible senior citizens on the campaign in late January this year,

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phone to urge them to come get the families around the country can have airport. They were then dispatched vaccine. access to life-saving vaccines. via road to the district vaccine store, then onto the sub-store at Pandugufa One of these was 81-year-old Chaitee As part of UNICEF’s support – which – both facilities equipped with Rawat. “I’m very excited to go get the also includes technical and logistical refrigeration units installed by shot,” she said, as she got ready to backing – cold rooms and vaccine UNICEF – before being packed into head out to the health post, “Why refrigerators have been installed at cold boxes and carried to the wouldn’t I be happy to get the different facilities at the federal, Malikabota Health Post on the backs vaccine?” provincial and local levels, and of porters. vaccine cold boxes and carriers Over the two days that vaccinations provided for safe transportation to “It’s truly gratifying to see how ran for at the facility, 120 elderly vaccination sites. In 2020 alone, UNICEF’s support to the cold chain people from the community like UNICEF installed 290 pieces of cold at different levels is being used in Chaitee arrived to get inoculated. “It chain equipment in different this vaccine drive to reach far-flung was great to see that our efforts to facilities nationwide. Plans are also communities like this one,” Indra convince them had not gone in vain,” in place to procure and install an Kala says. Nanda says. additional 910 pieces to address still That very same cold chain will also Maintaining an effective cold -existing gaps in select areas. All be used to store, transport and chain these efforts are now proving critical distribute vaccines received through to the roll-out of COVID-19 The delivery of vaccines to remote the COVAX Facility, a partnership vaccination campaign. places like Kankasundari relies on an between CEPI, Gavi, UNICEF and effective ‘cold chain’, which refers to “Given the difficult terrain in this WHO, made possible through a series of coordinated events in part of the country, it’s a long generous donor support from temperature-controlled process to bring vaccines in; it takes governments, international environments to store, manage and days of travel by air, by road, and in organizations, foundations and the transport vaccines. Ever since the some places by foot,” says Indra Kala private sector. Nepal received its beginning of routine immunization Tamang, Health Officer at UNICEF first consignment of COVID-19 efforts in Nepal, UNICEF together Nepal. vaccines - a total of 348,000 doses - with global health partners like Gavi that were shipped through the Indeed, before reaching have been supporting the COVAX facility on 7 March 2021, in Kankasundari, the vaccines were Government of Nepal to assess, support of the Government of first transported to the provincial expand and strengthen its cold chain Nepal’s nation-wide vaccination vaccine store in Nepalgunj from capacity, so that children and campaign. Kathmandu, then flown to Jumla ****

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Vaccination in progress. Nepal Becomes First Country in Asia Pacific Photo: @Santosh Kumar Chaudhary to Vaccinate Refugees Against COVID-19

Beldangi, March 19 — the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. In the responses by including refugees in the first phase, frontline health workers, national vaccination plans and rollout,” axmi Maya Regmi, 72, a refugee sanitation workers, hygiene workers and said Carolin Spannuth Verma, UNHCR’s from Bhutan, never thought that security officials were vaccinated. Representative in Nepal. L she would need a vaccination at her age. But on 19 March, she was among Local authorities, refugee leaders and Nepal reported 323,187 confirmed COVID the first refugees to receive a COVID-19 security officials set up a temporary cases and 3,279 deaths as of 30 April vaccine at a settlement in Beldangi, in vaccination centre at the refugee 2021, according to a data released by eastern Nepal. settlement and as of April-end, some 859 Ministry of Health and Population. refugees had received vaccinations against “I didn’t want to miss this opportunity. I “The risk of COVID-19 is the same for all. It the virus across the country. More am very happy now,” she said, after doesn’t matter if you are a refugee or refugees will be enrolled in the vaccination receiving her first dose. “I had heard that not,” said Shrawan Kumar Timilsina, the programme as the government receives old age people like me were more Chief District Officer of Jhapa, in eastern additional supplies of vaccines. exposed to the disease. I feel safe now.” Nepal where the country’s two refugee Nepal hosts nearly 20,000 refugees, settlements are located. “Protecting the Nepal was the first country in the Asia mostly Tibetans and Bhutanese with life of all people is our priority.” Pacific region to provide COVID-19 jabs to arrival dates in 1959 and in the early refugees through its national vaccination Bhakti Prasad Baral, 83, fled Bhutan in 1990s respectively. rollout. The refugees at the settlement 1992 and is now living in Beldangi were vaccinated as part of the second Since the onset of the pandemic, UNHCR, settlement. He said that he felt “lucky” to phase of that rollout, which started on 7 the UN Refugee Agency, has been working get the vaccine. March and targets people over the age of closely with other UN agencies and “It was really difficult to endure what was 65. government authorities to advocate for going on because of the virus,” said the the inclusion of refugees in COVID-19 The country kicked off its vaccination octogenarian, who works as a Hindu priest preparedness and response plans. campaign on 27 January after the Indian in his community. “I have no words to government donated one million doses of “The Government of Nepal has shown thank the Government of Nepal for paying Covishield, the India-produced version of exemplary leadership for public health attention to older persons like us.”

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health, lives, and livelihoods,” Dr. Rajesh WHO Nepal Hands Over Health Sambhajirao Pandav, WHO Representative to Nepal said. “Hence, the HEOCs will help Emergency Operation mitigate the adverse impacts of natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and other Centers to MoHP acute public health risks through robust preparedness, readiness, and response.” Province 1 and 2, March 25 — the legal frameworks, plans, and policies; The WHO is committed to continuing to establishing HEOCs and telemedicine The World Health Organization (WHO), support the efforts of Nepal to strengthen centers at national and provincial levels; Country Office for Nepal, handed over one the ability to detect, assess, and respond formation of Emergency Medical national Health Emergency Operation to public health events to meet its Deployment Teams (EMDTs); and the Center (HEOC) and four Provincial Health commitments under the IHR and to reduce creation of a hub satellite hospitals’ Emergency Operation Centers (PHEOCs) in disaster risks while moving towards the network covering the country, have also Province 1, 2, Bagmati, and Lumbini to the relevant global targets of the Sendai complemented Nepal’s efforts in Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP). Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction strengthening emergency preparedness The MoHP, the Ministries of Social 2015-2030. and response. Development, the Health Directorates of WHO’s COVID-19 response in Nepal is the provinces, and WHO, Country Office A report, Health Emergency Operation made possible through the generous for Nepal, have collaborated closely in the Center Network of Nepal – The Voyage support of the Government of Azerbaijan; setup of this nationwide network of and the Vista, was also released which Foreign, Commonwealth & Development HEOCs. vividly highlighted the steps that were Office-UK (DFID); Government of taken by the HEOC network of Nepal to The establishment of the HEOCs around Germany; and USAID. strengthen the national health emergency marks a key step towards strengthening of risk management capacity for a resilient View story online: https://www.who.int/ communication and coordination for health system. nepal/news/detail/25-03-2021-who-nepal effective public health response which is a -hands-over-five-health-emergency- compliance requirement of the “As illustrated by the devastating operation-centers-from-around-nepal-to- International Health Regulations (2005). earthquake of 2015, the floods and mohp landslides of 2017, and the ongoing COVID In accordance with the IHR (2005), -19 pandemic, Nepal is vulnerable to additional measures such as strengthening emergencies that pose serious threat to 9 | UN IN NEPAL | MAR-APR 2021 | UN.INFO.NP

ILO Nepal and CBS Jointly Release Report 2021

he Nepal Child Labour Report makers, planners and 2021 is a joint publication of ILO development partners in T Nepal and Central Bureau of Nepal,” said Nebin Lal Statistics (CBS). The report, released Shrestha, Director General of virtually on 29 April 2021, highlights key Central Bureau of Statistics data and analysis crucial to end child (CBS). labour in the country, and reveals how the The report is published with progress in human development indicators financial support from the UK has direct impact on the status of child Government through the ILO- labour. FCDO Asia Regional Child The report’s arrival marks an important Labour Programme (ARC), year as 2021 is ‘International Year for the which intends to reduce Elimination of Child Labour’ and Nepal is vulnerability to child labour one of the pathfinder countries of the and enhance protection of Alliance 8.7 that is working to accelerate children from exploitation in Nepal. Honourable Member of the National progress towards Sustainable Agriculture has been identified as the Planning Commission (NPC). Development Goal 8.7 . Though Nepal has sector with highest number of child ratified most of the key international The study reveals that child labourers in labour. Among the total children engaged conventions that prohibit child labour and urban areas (3.3 per cent) seem to be in child labour, about 87 per cent are its worst forms, the considerable number involved more in hazardous occupations in engaged in the agriculture sector while 13 of working children and child labour shows comparison to the child labourers in rural per cent are in other sectors. The highest a gap of proper implementation of laws areas (2.9 per cent). It also reports that child labour prevalence is found among and policies to eliminate child labour. female children are more likely to be community (19.4 per cent), and engaged in child labour (17 per cent) than Nepal has experienced a decrease in child Karnali province has the highest incidence male (14 per cent). labour over the last two decades; (24.6 per cent). however, this report suggests there is still One of the key findings of the report The country has recently approved the a lot more to be done. Among seven suggests that parental education, wealth National Master Plan (NMP)-II on Child million children (total children) between and assets seem to have significant Labour (2018 – 2028) that aims to amend the ages of 5 and 17 in Nepal, 1.1 million impacts on children’s involvement in child and formulate national child labour children (15.3 per cent) were found to be labour. Therefore, addressing Nepal’s policies and legislations based on engaged in child labour, a significant human development is instrumental in evidences. decline in child labour in comparison to addressing child labour in the country. 2008 (1.6 million). “The Government of Nepal is committed Child labour prevalence is 4.4 per cent for to end child labour by 2025. The Ministry parents with at least the intermediate “There has been a decline in child labour of Labour, Employment and Social level education followed by secondary in hazardous occupations by two-third in Security, has already initiated the second level (grade 9 and 10) education (10.4 per Nepal, a significant progress in a decade. National Master Plan (NMP-II, 2018- 2028) cent) and lower secondary level (grade 6, However, it’s high time that we take on a on Child Labour. This report will be helpful 7 and 8) education (12.9 per cent). coordinated approach to implement laws in the implementation and monitoring of and policies to fill the existing gaps on Joint report of the CBS and ILO - Nepal the plan,” expressed Binod Prakash Singh, child labour and child protection in the Child Labour Report 2021: https:// Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, country,” said Richard Howard, Director of www.ilo.org/kathmandu/whatwedo/ Employment and Social Security. ILO Country Office for Nepal. publications/WCMS_784225/lang--en/ “The findings from the report will be index.htm “The report presents the disaggregated instrumental in the monitoring of the statistics of child labour and children Joint press release of the CBS and ILO - fifteenth periodic plan, provincial and local engaged in hazardous work mainly by Need for a rigorous effort to eliminate level plans, Sustainable Development provinces, regions, sectors, ethnicity, and : https://www.ilo.org/ Goals (SDGs) and other development occupations, which will be useful to policy kathmandu/info/public/pr/ initiatives,” said Dr. Ram Kumar Phuyal,

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Nepali Stakeholders Come Together to Pave Way Forward for Migration Governance in the Country

Pokhara, April 12 — effective and timely manner.” “The Secretary Surya Prasad Gautam, Ministry of whole-of-society and whole-of- Labour, Employment and Social Security multi-stakeholder government approach is the only addressing the workshop. workshop was organized way that makes it possible,” he went Photo: IOM Nepal/2021 on 11 – 12 April in A on to say. to discuss and plan for an implementation of the global The GCM is the first comprehensive compact for migration (GCM) in UN framework on migration adopted Nepal with support from the through intergovernmental International Organization for consultations and negotiations to Migration (IOM) under the enhance international cooperation in “The UN established a leadership of the Ministry of Labour, global migration governance. network on migration at Employment and Social Security. Adopted by 152 UN member states, Building on the country’s continuing GCM presents an important global level to support the efforts in carrying out GCM activities, opportunity to improve migration implementation of GCM’s the workshop aimed to identify and governance at national, regional and objectives and their discuss the priorities of Nepal in global levels to tackle the challenges developing national strategy for the associated with present-day associated commitments to implementation of GCM and to migration, and to enable the ensure effective, timely and contribute to the development of migrants and migration to coordinated system-wide national strategy paper. contribute to sustainable support to its member development. GCM comprises of 23 Addressing the event, Secretary objectives that are rooted to the states.” Surya Prasad Gautam from the SDGs covering all aspects related to Ministry of Labour, Employment and migration, their implementation, and Social Security said, “Only a joint Lorena Lando follow-up and review. Chief of Mission for the IOM in Nepal efforts from all corners – from all government and non-government The workshop brought together stakeholders – can translate the GCM range of stakeholders – various objectives into practice in more government agencies with all

11 | UN IN NEPAL | MAR-APR 2021 | UN.INFO.NP relevant Ministries, civil society Colombo Process (CP), a regional opportunities and for higher organizations, and UN– to forum of 12 Asian labour sending education are dominant purposes of contextualize the GCM in Nepal countries, Member State. During the the international migration from while sharing current progress made Chairpersonship, Nepal led the Nepal. In 2018/19, remittances sent by Nepal for adoption and process of drafting the CP member back home by Nepalese migrants implementation of GCM. states recommendations to the GCM accounted for an equivalent of 28 draft which was submitted to the per cent of the country’s GDP. “The UN established a network on Special Representative of the United migration at global level to support The 2015 Nations Secretary General on the implementation of GCM’s recognizes the need for migration international migration and co- objectives and their associated governance and regulation of foreign facilitators of the GCM. These commitments to ensure effective, employment in order to make recommendations are now part of timely and coordinated system-wide migration safe from exploitation, the document. Nepal was the Chair support to its member states,” said free and orderly to guarantee the of the Colombo Process from March Lorena Lando, Chief of Mission for labourer’s and migrants’ rights. 2017 to April 2021 and handed over the IOM in Nepal on the occasion. Nepal’s 15th national plan and the the baton to Government of Islamic “Accordingly, the UN country team in voluntary review of the sustainable Republic of Afghanistan on 20 April Nepal is carrying its commitment to development goals (SDGs) have 2021. establish a UN network in the emphasized the positive outcomes country to support the efforts of the In 2020, Nepal was chosen as a on migration but also concerns – government," she added. champion country of the GCM protection concerns, further need for implementation. Nepal also consular support, sustainable Migration networks are now rolled participated in the GCM national reintegration of the returnee out at the regional level and in many voluntary review and submitted its migrants and skill development. countries. In carrying out its review based on the inputs received Other concerns include trafficking in mandate, this UN network will from the multi-stakeholder persons, exploitative recruitment prioritize the rights and wellbeing of consultation held in December 2020. procedures and restrictions rather migrants and their communities of than support measures for migrants destination, origin and transit. Migration in Nepal has a long history in vulnerable situations. The GCM and is a decisive factor in the Nepal has actively participated and provides a unique opportunity for country’s socio-economic landscape. contributed to the thematic Nepal to comprehensively address While about 10 million Nepalese are discussion in the process and the and to provide 360 degree view to lifetime internal migrants, more than drafting of the GCM document as an migration in Nepal. 3.2 million are in international individual state and representing the migration. Migration for overseas job ****

A returnee migrant from Province 1 making Muda (a kind of handmade chair) upon receiving support fund from IOM under the Secretary-General’s COVID-19 response fund program.

File Photo: IOM

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Multiple-phase structures Samai Mai.

Photo: ©UNESCO Chair, Durham University. 2021 Season of Archaeological Investigations at Tilaurakot- Kapilavastu Concludes complex.

The Central Walled Complex at the centre of the ancient city covers an area 100 by Lumbini, April 27 — excavations within the ancient walled city 100 metres and is defined by a large near the Samai Mai Shrine and the Central rchaeologists and researchers compound wall measuring 1.50 metres Walled Complex, a monumental palatial from Nepal’s Department of across, with individual bricks measuring area identified through previous research Archaeology, the Lumbini 0.47 by 0.30 by 0.05 metres. The team A by the team. Development Trust, and Durham investigated the south-eastern return of University’s UNESCO Chair on Close to the modern Samai Mai Shrine, the this wall, which was associated with a Archaeological Ethics and Practice in team uncovered the partial remains of an small square structure, to identify the Cultural Heritage completed earlier phase of a temple complex located relationship between these two features. archaeological field activities (March-April within a precinct wall built of carved and Their findings indicate that both the 2021) at the ancient Tilaurakot- moulded bricks, similar to those found at compound wall and square structure were Kapilavastu. the nearby sites of Chatradei and Kudan. built on the same land surface and were Whilst the dates of these structures will This activity was a part of the Japanese- most likely contemporary. The square only be confirmed following the scientific sponsored UNESCO project for the structure itself was found to have been dating of samples extracted during the strengthening of the management of built directly above an earlier structure of excavations, the investigations have Lumbini. It was started following approval the same plan. Post-excavation analysis confirmed that there was a concentration for a late spring 2021 Covid-19 compliant will help to identify the function of the of monumental activity linked to the field season. The team carried out later structure; nonetheless, its development of this multi-phase ritual 13 | UN IN NEPAL | MAR-APR 2021 | UN.INFO.NP

construction method has been identified, are being conserved for future Conservation of artefacts from the excavation. with brick footings cut by postholes to presentation to the public. These include allow for timber roof and wall support stretches of the Central Walled Complex’s Photo: ©UNESCO Chair, Durham University. posts. compound wall and southern tower. Furthermore, the modern Samai Mai Excavations continued to uncover later Shrine has been repointed and structures identified in levels above the consolidated, with sympathetic repairs compound wall in the north-east corner of undertaken to stabilize the monument, the Central Walled Complex. Here, the which has a tree growing within the Capacity strengthening activities team identified later paving laid on a structure itself. continued during the season, with prepared platform, which was constructed practical training and lectures offered to on an earlier quadrangular building. A Outside the city wall, auger profiles have Masters level students – 22 from small square plinth with a retaining wall been undertaken between the southern Tribhuvan University and 16 from Lumbini was also uncovered, associated with the rampart and the southern industrial Buddhist University. Due to COVID-19 paving and prepared platform. Although mound. By hand drilling cores every five restrictions on large gatherings of people, still to be confirmed by scientific dating, metres down to natural soil, the team has the 2021 Tilaurakot-Kapilavastu Heritage the paving and plinth most likely represent been reconstructing the profile of the land Festival is being organised online, focusing late activity at Tilaurakot-Kapilavastu, below the current surface in order to on competitions for school children. The stretching the timing of the site’s activity investigate the depth and width of the themes of this year’s drawing and speech beyond the Gupta Period (third to ninth ancient moat. Additional geophysical competitions are threats to heritage in the century CE) and into the Medieval Period surveys also confirmed the presence of a Greater Lumbini Area for the former and (ninth to fourteenth century CE). This large rectangular brick structure buried the impact of the pandemic on heritage structure corresponds to the location of below the surface close to the Eastern for the latter. The recordings and images the Deva Temple mapped by archaeologist Gate. As this area is currently used as a car from entrants will be hosted online by P.C. Mukherjee in the 1890s. park, it has been recommended that this UNESCO. commercial use of the land be halted as it Monuments uncovered during this project may damage the archaeology below. ***

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Building of Chabahil Cooperative market built with the support of Cooperative Market Development Programme, a joint project of Government of Nepal and UNDP.

Photo: UNDP Improving Farmers’ Access to Markets Kathmandu, May 7— -- Chitwan, Dhading, Lalitpur, or the first time, Nepal has Kavre, Makwanpur, and fully functional fruits and Nuwakot, which supply vegetable satellite markets F fresh vegetables produced that are run entirely by cooperatives, by Nepali farmers. Around thanks to the Cooperative Market 16,900 farmers benefit from Development Programme, a joint these satellite markets. initiative of UNDP and the Government of Nepal. The “The collection centre has cooperative-run markets have gone helped us increase our sales online. of fruits and vegetables. We send our produce to the In 2020, the Cooperative Market municipal market in Development Programme Dhading or directly to the Staff replenishing vegetable items at the Cooperative market introduced two large cooperative- in Chabahil. satellite market in Chabahil. run satellite markets in Chabahil and We are finally getting a good Photo: UNDP Lalitpur. Built on one to two ropanis price for our produce and of land at major trade hubs, these we do not have to depend on traders markets are connected to 71 anymore:” - Sabita Lamichhane, a Adarsha Krishi cooperative in primary cooperative-run local farmer and member of the Jana Dhading. markets in six districts around the

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Must Queer Art Always Be by Queers, for Queers? Musings on a Recent Comic Workshop Author: Dia Yonzon

A creative writing professor told me during an earlier workshop in 2020 that “the world is big enough for all art that all the people create”. By the same token, I believe the world has enough space for queer artists to create both queer and non- About the author: Dia Yonzon (she/they), 25, is from Nepal. After completing her bachelor’s in arts and bachelor’s in queer content, and at law, she decided to take a year-off to focus on herself, and mostly to read and write fictions. Later that year, she decided to join a traineeship programme with United Nations and ended up being times for non-queer selected to work in UN Women Nepal. After 11 months as a trainee, she rejoined UN Women as Nation Youth UNV working in the capacity of Youth Programme Support Officer. She loves to artists to create queer spend her time hiking in the forest and being in the mountains. content. here is increasing mainstream All it took, as so often, was for one person acceptance of queer culture, in to summon the courage to open up about T particular in art. But how far their life. I was sitting in a zoom call with does this acceptance go beyond the strangers, but as they told their stories trends and convenience of the straight and spoke about what impacted their art, I world? At what point does mindless felt like I was sitting under forest foliage mainstreaming become cultural somewhere listening to tales from a appropriation? fantasy world. As more and more people

16 | UN IN NEPAL | MAR-APR 2021 | UN.INFO.NP got comfortable and started to share, it Two important questions came up before of our ideas. Many of the participants was as if a floodgate opened up of stories and after the workshop – Can comics with stayed online after the official end, sharing woven in nostalgia. no elements of queerness still be artworks and feedback. included in the final collection of comics I was in the Virtual Comic Workshop for Was all the shared art related to for queer youths? And can art and poetry Queer Youths, organized by UN Women queerness? No. However, the workshop created by non-queer artists be included and other UN agencies on 24-28th June, and the online group that followed in the same collection? and I was smiling from ear to ear. It hit me became a space for queer youths pursuing how much I crave spaces like this where These discussions were prompted by the art to come together to help each other the experience of queerness is understood high volume of non-queer applicants, and grow. and welcomed. the few selected queer participants who As a queer indigenous writer, all my decided to omit their queer experience A year earlier, I was sitting opposite a writings have an element that reflects my from their final comics. straight cis-gendered man in a conference queer indigenous life experiences, room bawling like a baby, as he sat A creative writing professor told me during whether visible or not. What makes me stunned and visibly uncomfortable, an earlier workshop in 2020 that “the feel cheated and manipulated is not that bewildered by my queer melancholia, world is big enough for all art that all the non-queer people are creating queer art uncharted territory for him. As my tears people create”. By the same token, I or expressing themselves in non-binary dried he spoke about how I should have believe the world has enough space for manners. It is when these acts are done – more self-confidence and other things queer artists to create both queer and non often - to benefit solely those people who which were neither helpful nor -queer content, and at times for non- are non-queer and do not value the meaningful. queer artists to create queer content. struggle of being queer. However, it is key to acknowledge the At that time, I thought I had cried out of Let us take the example of the much- need for some spaces that are exclusively disappointment, because I had convinced celebrated Pride Month. As a queer for queer artists to create queer content. myself that a straight cis-gendered man person, I feel overwhelming joy when might relate to my queer trans-non-binary It is important to understand our lives as companies and institution show solidarity. life experience just because I once saw out intersections and interactions with But how much does only changing your him post a picture of himself with painted others. How do we see ourselves in our logo and profile picture into rainbow- nails. How foolish of me? own right, and how in relation to others? colored spangle drive social norm change, How do we see our background - where if the same companies are not actively But after attending the virtual comic we are now, where we want to go - and so listening to and engaging with queer workshop, I began to understand that my much more? And there are things beyond people? tears had not been out of sadness but our control - everyone comes with their despair and sheer frustration; from feeling Coming back to queer art and the comics unique circumstances in this world, over cheated and manipulated and seeing my workshop, it is key to understand the which they have no control. These life experience and that of other queer difference between participation and individualities set some of us apart in people turned into a mere social media ownership. Let us not forget that many terms of our access to resources and trend; one where straight people take queer artists and authors have risked their agency. I believe when we can see this, what suits them without understanding or lives to express themselves through art. and when we become more aware of what helping the ongoing attempts to We must remember that, if we have come spaces for art currently exist – and which overthrow the system that oppresses to a place where more and more queer don’t - then perhaps we might also see the queer individuals. content is seen in the mainstream media, need for more representation for more it is because of their constant struggle and The four-day workshop was organized by queer art. refusal to blend in and disappear, despite UN Women, the UN Resident In the workshop, the central theme was ongoing violence and hate crimes. Coordinator’s Office and the World Health celebrating queer literature and investing Organization, facilitated by Virangana So, yes, when participants were being in young queer artists. Experts were Comics, and supported by the British selected for comic workshop for queer brought in and shared their experience, Council. The main goal was to bring youth, many non-queer youths who had participants learned more about the comic together young queer artists from Nepal applied had some frustration over not art genre, and skills to improve our comic to learn about comics as a way of artistic being able to participate. It is panels to tell a more compelling story. self-expression and activism. The understandable. However, it is also time Towards the end, when the final drafts workshop was in line with the Beijing for queer people to claim the space and started rolling in, we could see how Declaration’s principle relating to the use take hold of the pen for their own different they were from the first sketches of media and representation. storytelling.

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High Level Roundtable on The discussion focused on the current challenges that Nepal is facing for malaria elimination interventions namely Rethinking Malaria imported malaria, radical cure of vivax malaria, governance, and program management in the new federal structure. Kathmandu, April 19 — Malaria Elimination signed in 2017 for a malaria-free South-East Asia Region by Dr Dipendra Raman Singh emphasized that o mark World Malaria Day, the 2030. surveillance system strengthening, and World Health Organization timely action responses will enhance the (WHO) South-East Asia Regional However, there was a common realization T significant progress towards malaria Office organized a high-level roundtable that attaining the regional goal of a South- elimination by 2025. Dr Krishna Poudel titled “Rethinking Malaria: Innovation in East Asia free of malaria by 2030, would added that the introduction of community Service delivery for acceleration of malaria not be possible without s a re-think in -based malaria testing will improve the elimination in WHO South-East Asia.” strategy and action. In this regard the high malaria case finding among the migrant -level discussion was organized. . Countries across the South-East Asia and mobile workers, as well as disease Region have made remarkable progress in The meeting was attended by Dr Dipendra vulnerable and most marginalized malaria reduction and the region has seen Raman Singh, Director General, populations in the country. the steepest decline in malaria burden Department of Health Services, and Dr View story online: https://www.who.int/ among all WHO regions in recent years. Krishna Poudel, Director of Epidemiology nepal/news/detail/19-04-2021-high-level- This achievement is consistent with the and Disease Control Division. WHO roundtable-on-re-thinking-malaria- goals established by the World Health Representative to Nepal, Dr. Rajesh innovation-in-service-delivery-for-the- Organization (WHO)'s Global Technical Sambhajirao Pandav, and the acceleration-of-malaria-elimination-in- Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030 (GTS), and Communicable Disease Unit in WHO, world-health-organization-south-east-asia- in accordance with the Ministerial Country Office for Nepal, also participated region Declaration on Accelerating and Sustaining in the meeting.

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Photo Story: UNHCR

UNHCR Nepal handed over one newly constructed Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) equipped with intensive care facility for newly born babies at AMDA Hospital, Damak in Jhapa district in Province 1 on 10 March 2021.

UNHCR Nepal handed over two ambulances to Nepal Red Cross Society in Damak, Jhapa district and Pathari-Sanischare Municipality in Morang district in Province 1 on 18 March 2021. The ambulances will cater to the needs of refugees and the host As part of livelihoods support, funded by UNHCR Nepal, Bhutanese refugee women of Beldangi settlement in community members Province 1 in eastern Nepal received advanced tailoring training to enhance their skills and enable them to sustain in accessing health themselves and their families. facilities in a timely manner.

On 10 March 2021, UNHCR Nepal handed over two tipper trucks to the Mayors of and Pathari- Sanischare Municipality in Jhapa and Morang districts in Province 1 to ensure better access to waste management services for refugees and the host community.

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A plane arrives at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu with Nepal's first consignment of COVID-19 vaccine doses via the COVAX facility.

Photo: WHO Nepal/A. Maharjan

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