F OCHA Situation Overview

Issue No. 32, covering the period 27 July – 9 August 2008 , 10 August 2008

Highlights:

• Government formation delayed again, still no consensus among largest political parties • Election for new Prime Minister announced • More explosions, abductions and violence in Eastern Region • Strikes and protests continue, affecting several regions of the country • VDC secretaries halt work for an indefinite period demanding security • Food shortage worsening in several districts in Mid- and Far-Western Regions

CONTEXT

Political situation

The government formation was delayed again as the largest Meanwhile, on 10 July, the President asked CA Secretariat to political parties failed to resolve power sharing issues. On 29 conduct the election of the PM and the date has been fixed for July, President Ram Baran Yadav had officially asked the 15 August. The PM is elected by a majority vote of the 596 Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) to form a members of the CA so far sworn in and the candidate needs at government of national consensus. A majority of the 25 political least 298 votes to be elected . parties representing the Constituent Assembly (CA) already have given a green signal to a Maoist-led government based on the Safety and security unity of all parties. On 2 August, the Maoists tabled a proposal for a common minimum programme (CMP) to form the next government during the 25-party meeting at the CPN-M parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar. The 50-point CMP, divided into five groups, focused on maintaining national unity, implementation of a federal democratic republic, state restructuring, lasting peace and guarantee of peace and security, immediate relief package, reconstruction and revolutionary reforms and socio-economic transformation. However, the next three largest parties said that the Maoist-proposed CMP needed more work as it largely focussed on the Maoist agenda and failed to address the issues of all parties. Missing the deadline on 5 August to reach a consensus to form the government, the Maoist leaders requested the President to extend the deadline for three more days to reach a consensus. A taskforce comprising of senior leaders of the four parties, Dev Gurung from CPN-M, Bhim Rawal of UML, Bimalendra Nidhi of NC and Upendra Yadav from MJF, was formed to draft the CMP and agree on power-sharing in order to find a way to end the political deadlock and create an environment of mutual political trust.

But the parties missed the extended deadline again due to lack of consensus on the CMP, sharing of ministerial portfolios and http://www.un.org.np/reports/maps/OCHA/2008/2008-08-05- lack of implementation of past pacts. While the taskforce had SecurityJuly1-31Final.pdf been intensifying efforts for a national unity government, top party leaders from NC and UML had been expressing doubts The Eastern Region is under tension due to frequent incidents about the Maoists leading the government and were already of explosions, abductions and violence. On 31 July, an talking about alternative solutions. Ex PM and NC President unidentified group abducted a local of -14 in Morang Girija Prasad Koirala and CPN-M Chairman Prachanda had district. On 31 July, an unidentified gang abducted a farmer of been busy meeting UML leaders to get their support. The NC Rampura Malhaniya VDC of Saptari. On 1 August, an and CPN-M leaders were mostly at loggerheads over the unidentified gang detonated a bomb at the house of a lawyer in sharing of top ministries, with the Defence ministry a key Rajbiraj municipality-5. On 4 August, an unidentified group sticking point. Negotiations between the Maoists and UML abducted a former Nepal Army soldier from . appear in better shape but are by no means conclusive at this On 3 August, an unidentified group shot and injured civilians point. Disagreement between the Maoists and NC had clearly from Arnaha VDC of Sarlahi. On 4 August, two persons were put an obstacle to reaching final consensus over forming the injured when an explosive device went off at a teashop in government, according to national newspapers. During the Biratnagar, Suditole. On 5 August, the Madheshi Mukti Tigers reporting period, there was still no sign the top parties (MMT) exploded an IED at a local businessman’s house in reaching a consensus, however, they had been intensifying a lot Inaruwa of . In Mahottari, conflict victim of negotiations to form a unity government. Bishnu Maya Thapa was looted when she was returning

OCHA Nepal Situation Overview, Issue No. 32/1027 July 2008 1 home with money provided by Home-Ministry as seeking basic services due to the lack of decision-making compensation after her husband was killed by cadres of authority allocated to acting heads of offices. JTMM-Jwala Singh few months ago. Jwala Singh-led Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (JTMM-J) cadres have Operational space intensified their donation drive. Similarly, Kirant Janbadi Workers Party (KJWP) have also asked donations from the According to NGO staff in Dhanusha and Mahottari districts, VDC secretaries of Khotang and VDCs of Udayapur in Bhojpur the working environment of NGOs in these districts is district. Limbuwan activists continue with their donation seriously affected by activities of armed groups. As per demands from local civilians. They are demanding around Rs district level information, Care Nepal and CARITAS have 2-4 million from business community. suspended their programmes in Dhanusha for the time being. Strikes and protests continued during the period in several regions of the country. On 29 July, Madhesi Janadhikar Humanitarian Forum (MJF) cadres called a general strike in Siraha, Saptari, Rautahat, Bara and Parsa districts protesting the Protection vandalism of the party central office in Kathmandu by The movement of the bonded agricultural labourers Haliyah student unions of other largest parties agitating against Vice community in the FWR is gaining momentum. On 4 August, President Parmananda Jha taking oath of office in Hindi a Haliyah family received land from the landlord due to the language in July. More than three dozen vehicles were initiative of the CDO and Dalit Network in . vandalized for defying the strike. Ambulance drivers also The Haliyah family had worked for three generations for the called an indefinite stop to their operations in Rajbiraj after landlord’s family. In 2007, the Haliyah family filed a case MFJ cadres vandalized and beat up the driver of an against the landlord at the DAO. In July 2008, Haliyah ambulance. On 30 July, activists of Madhesh Youth Forum warned they would capture public land if the demands went affiliated to MPRF set fire to all copies of Kantipur and unheard and accused the government of not seriously Annapurna Post in Birgunj for not favourably reporting their addressing the Haliyah requests. It is estimated that more protests. On 3 August, UML-affiliated Youth Force (YF) than 1,276 Haliyah families live in the FWR region. staged a protest rally at Gulariya of to pressurize authorities to take action against those involved in On 3 August, the Network of Women Human Rights the murder of UML District member and former Mayor of Defenders (NWHRD) demonstrated half naked in the Gulariya Municipality in July. Kathmandu to put pressure on political parties to find justice for Laxmi Bohara who was allegedly killed on 6 June by her The Tharu Welfare Council and other Tharu based in-laws. Bohara was a Female Community Health Volunteers organizations called a strike on 4 August against the Vice (FCHV) and a woman activist at Daijee village of President. On 6 August, the Kailali Chamber of Commerce and . Following an agreement with the Industries (KCCI) resumed its protest programmes against the MOHA, the strikes, including the relay hunger strike that truck Syndicate System by ceasing trucking services in the lasted 20 days, ended on 6 August. FWR. The Nepalgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) also announced from 8 August that it will stop the The Raji community ended its 10 days of protest in Bardiya loading trucks or delivery the goods. Since 3 July, an indefinite on 4 August. The protest began following the dismantlement strike July was called by Kanchanpur Loan Users Council of a Raji settlement by the Janagagriti Community Forest (KLUC) with their demands to relinquish of the loans taken Users’ Group (JFUG) and District Forest Office (DFO) at during the period of conflict from the State-owned Rastriya Bhaniyabhar VDC in Bardiya District on 24 July. The Raji Banijya Bank (RBB) and Agricultural Development Bank community, as a recognised indigenous group, had (ADB) in Mahendranagar. According to reports, the CPN-M agreements with the local authorities and communities had persuaded the small farmers not to repay loans. The regarding the use of the land. The protests ended following a Eastern regional office of Agriculture Development Bank in meeting of the district authority, representatives of Raji also failed to collect Rs 1.5 billion loan community, parties, human rights organizations, NGOs, Civil provided to the farmers after Maoists persuaded small farmers Society and the Federation of Forest Users’ Group not to repay their loan. The Rukum Chamber of Commerce (FECOFUN) agreed to allow Raji to stay at Khurkhurae Phata and Industry (RCCI) called a strike in Rukum from 6-7 August Ward-7 in Bhaniyabhar VDC until the government decided to in protest against the failure of the District Development resettle the Raji in another area. Committee (DDC) to maintain the Salyan (Shreenagar)-Rukum road. UNICEF and the Child Protection Cluster organized a regional Child Protection in Emergencies training on 29 and Reach of the State 30 July in Biratnagar. The purpose of the workshop was to better prepare Child Protection Cluster members, including On 31 July, the Struggle Committee of VDC secretaries’ Right the Government of Nepal, and key stakeholders such as protection Forum in Siraha halted all the VDC services for an (NRCS) on child protection needs in indefinite period demanding security following the abduction emergencies with a focus on the seasonal flooding and of VDC Secretary Manoj Karki from Govindapur VDC- 3 by landslides. Mine Risk Education (MRE) training was unidentified armed group. Even the health units of the conducted in Biratnagar from 7-9 July for the volunteers of district hospitals were closed. In Sunsari district, government NRCS. They were equipped with MRE Emergency Kits in offices closed from 6 August for an indefinite period, order for them to conduct MRE sessions in the most affected demanding security. Development work in Jajarkot has been communities in the Eastern regions. UNICEF provided 1100 affected by the absence of the VDC Secretaries, most of who hazard signs to the Nepal Army for marking minefield and are still working from Khalanga District Headquarters Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) fields. An additional (DHQs). Village residents are forced to travel to DHQ for 3,000 will be produced by mid August. A comprehensive important documents. In Achham, the heads of most district national MRE campaign is currently being prepared and will level government offices are on leave or transferred and their start in August. offices are now being handled by acting heads. The absence of head of line agencies is causing difficulties for those

OCHA Nepal Situation Overview, Issue No. 32/1027 July 2008 2

Food security people is that if border is closed for a long time they will not be able to gather enough food items as well as raw materials Food shortage was reported in where the for carpet weaving before winter. The border will naturally conditions are likely to deteriorate as the NFC has stopped close due to snowfall during the winter. selling rice. According to the District Agriculture Development Office (DADO), some 30,451 families can not In Sankhuwasabha, the border closed on July 13 after a produce food sufficient for themselves, while only 8,095 period of several weeks when residents could pass the border households meet their yearly food consumption with a special pass. It is estimated that roughly 10,000 requirements. The district requires at least 22,000 metric people in four VDCs of , Hatiya, Pawakhola and tonnes of annual food imports to meet the needs. Dalit Chepuwa are dependent on the cross border markets for communities in the northern parts of the District are the food. Nepal Food Corporation has a depot in Hatiya VDC. worst hit by food shortages. , Hwama, , , NFC delivered 300 quintals of rice there in June-July and it Rangsi and Jelwang VDCs are more affected by the has all been sold. NFC plans to send 300 additional quintals shortages. NFC has requested the government to supply of rice, but the delivery may take 2 months. No displacement 3,500 quintals of additional rice to meet the immediate has resulted, but local leaders are concerned about the needs in the District. Food shortages in are disruption to the local economy if the border remains closed. aggravated due to the obstruction of roads by floods and landslides. Bus and truck transportation has been halted Health since mid-May. Tractors have not been plying for the past week. Daily essentials like rice, pulses, cooking oil and salt Reports of the unknown disease outbreak in VDC, are hard to find and their price have nearly doubled in , led the District Public Health Office to send a Khalanga, Rukumkot, Chaurjahari, Simrad, Bairagithanti team of health workers to investigate and provide health and other places. In Kada VDC of Bajhang, people have been services. In June, three deaths of children were reported due reeling under food shortages for the past month due to to pneumonia and diarrhoea in Puma, Bhuwa and Kalinath problems of destructed roads due to rain to transport food VDCs of Humla. Diarrhoea and pneumonia are reportedly from . In , 18 VDCs face food common in Humla during the monsoon period from 15 June shortages. The NFC depot in DHQ has run out of stock. to 15 September. In Bajura, the DPHO faced a shortage of medicines and reported that medical supplies are on hold in The food situation is deteriorating in Achham and is in dire Dhangadhi for an undetermined period due to the July need for emergency food assistance. There are no transportation strikes and subsequent landslides and poor consumable goods, such as rice, oil, salt, lintel etc or other weather affecting the road conditions and preventing necessary food items, available. There are reports that replenishment of supplies. As per media reports, six children schools will close soon due to the food shortages. Accham died due to an unidentified disease at Kalika VDC in Dolpa faced food shortages from June, which was exacerbated by district during the reporting period. On 2 August, local the transportation strikes from 13-27 July and there was no media reported the deaths of three people due to an relief once the transportation strikes were called off, as the unidentified disease at Gutu VDC of Surkhet. The Regional road remained blocked by landslides. The road condition is Health Directorate (RHD) Surkhet mobilized health workers poor from Sanfebagar to DHQs around the 22-24 to provide health services and investigate the reports. km mark, which is only functional during the winter season. There is also no bridge over Kailash River, which is an An emergency health camp was organised in Basudevpur important factor for the transportation of goods. Food VDC of on 2-4 August following reports of an scarcity has affected some 25 VDCs including Bayala, Basti, unknown disease outbreak affecting over 50 people. In June, Birpath, Nada, Turmakhad, Bhairabsthan, Balata, , the Bajura DPHO diagnosed one case of Wild Polio Virus Bandali, Ghodasain among others. The NFC reported the (WPV) Type 3 (P3) in an 11 year old child in Budiganga VDC. food scarcity in the District to the NFC- Central office and The DPHO suspect that the case of Polio-P3 was transmitted other central level line agencies in July. According to local in the area of the Nepal and India border, in particular on the media, there were threats of food scarcity in Sigaudi, Tilepata Bihar side. The DPHO planned to conduct a campaign to and Tolijaisi VDCs of District due to drought. After reduce the impact of Polio-P3 in Bajura and its six adjoining the insecurity situation of food in Dailekh most of the districts to control poliomyelitis from spreading. The polio peoples with their families have been migrating to India. drops administering drive will be launched in Bajura, Achham, Bajhang, , Kalikot, Mugu and Humla Districts. The recent joint Emergency Food and Security Assessment On 10 September, the Bajura DPHO will conduct a measles (EFSA) in Kalikot, Humla, Mugu, Dolpa, Bajura, Achham, campaign for the entire District. Dailekh, Rukum and Jajarkot conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives (MoAC) and WFP One person died when over fifty people were reportedly recommends immediate assistance for 286,000 people in attacked by wild jackals this week in various VDC’s of nine districts. The report attributed the severe food Dailekh. Two members of the same family died due to snake insecurity in these Districts to significant crop loss fuelled by bite on 6 August, in Malakheti VDC of . rising fuel and food costs. The food security situation is precarious in the affected areas and is further exacerbated by Refugees/IDPs the sharp rise in food and fuel costs in recent months, the report said. According to the report, more than 90 per cent of The Norwegian Refugee Council Nepal (NRC) has launched the surveyed population is experiencing food shortages that its Shelter and NFI Project, providing non-food items and are worse after the last season. The affected districts were emergency shelter assistance to IDPs and returnees induced identified as prone to recurrent droughts, hailstorms, by conflict, with priority on women headed household, landslides and crop losses in the past. elderly women, and widows who are in desperate need of assistance. The project will cover NRC working areas to be According to the reports, the Tibetan border in Olangchung implemented from Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Lahan, Gola was closed again in the middle of July. For the time Nepalgunj, Surkhet and Rukum. National Human Rights being, there is no severe food shortage in that area and their Commission (NHRC) organised an IDP workshop on 31 July stock will last for next a couple of months. The fear with Gola

OCHA Nepal Situation Overview, Issue No. 32/1027 July 2008 3 with participation of IDPs, representatives of key political 24 deaths. The cumulative death toll for natural hazards parties, NGOs, INGOs, UN agencies and Ministry of Peace since June has reached 50 in these regions. Between 10 June and Reconstruction. The emphasis was on the pitfalls of and 3 August, an estimated 5,413 people were affected and dealing with the IDP issue, including a lack of authentic 256 families were displaced by flood and landslide in 27 updated data, duplication of funding and activities among districts all over the country, according to NRCS report. On 6 agencies, lack of transparency in IDP programmes and poor August, a landslide hit ward 9 of Bhramatola VDC and dissemination of 2007 IDP Policy. On 27 July, 30 pro- caused death of seven persons and left two persons missing. activists were arrested in Sindupalchok, close to the Tibetan The DAO mobilised the Search and Rescue Team comprising border, having walked from Kathmandu with the stated of the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Red Cross intention of crossing into Tibet. They were reportedly Society (NRCS), political party representatives and the local returned to Kathmandu and released without charge. community. The DPHO mobilised a team from the sub- health posts with several health workers to provide Education emergency health services. The District Livestock Office also mobilised a team to the landslide location to assess the The handover of the public schools to the communities is situation. The landslide affected households reportedly increasing in Surkhet and helping to improve school require immediate food support, NFIs and shelter. WFP food management. Despite protests from the Teachers’ security assessments recorded this VDC as a food insecure Association, 70 Public Schools including 59 Primary Schools, area (An estimated 3,200 people in wards 1-6 in at risk of seven Lower Secondary Schools and four Secondary Schools deteriorating food insecurity situation, as of July 2008). An were handed over to communities in 2007. There are a total OCHA team travelled to Bajura to monitor the situation from of 500 schools in the district. The Community Schools’ 11-15 August. On 3 August, the DDRC search and rescue National Network urged the government to continue its team confirmed the nine deaths in a landslide on 31 July, at assistance to schools. Bora Gaoun-Ward 4, Khalanga VDC, in . The DDRC and NRCS provided the NFI and necessary support to Floods/Disaster preparedness the affected people

The DDRC in Sunsari is working to provide compensation to the affected households. On 30 July, OCHA team visited the Narsing and Babiya VDCs of Sunsari district to interact with flood victims. CARE Nepal and its local partners, EDC in Doti and Conscious Society for Social Development (CSSD) provided training to government officials, NGOs and NRCS on LSR in Kailali and Doti Districts. With the support of Danish Red Cross, NRCS provided the resource person for the training. CSSD Kailali, an implementing partner of CARE Nepal, provided rescue materials comprising of life jackets and rope to the Search and Recue Team of Armed Police Force (APF) in Tikapur, Kailali. A total of 78 life jackets were distributed to the communities in Lalbojhi, Dhansinghpur and Narayanpur VDCs of Kailali and 11 boats to the communities living in flood risky area. CSSD is also planning to provide additional boat to the flood prone communities by mid August.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Mid-Western Region Contact Group Meeting, Nepalgunj: 26 August (contact: Kendra Clegg, [email protected])

Central Region Contact Group Meeting on Health, Ratauhat: 21 August (contact: Leith Baker, [email protected]) Flood in Mahottari . Photo: OCHA IASC Meeting, UN conference room, Kathmandu, 28 August The number of deaths in FWR/MWR caused by natural (contact: Aditee Maskey, [email protected]) hazards jumped during the period with an estimated total of

Disclaimer: The information in this report is consolidated from media, UN, NGO, and other humanitarian partners, subject to availability of data. Although OCHA aims to confirm reports independently, occasional factual inaccuracies can occur. For inputs, questions or comments please contact:

Wendy Cue, Head of Office OCHA Nepal Tel. +977(1)559-2311 [email protected] Visit the Nepal Information Platform at http://www.un.org.np

OCHA Nepal Situation Overview, Issue No. 32/1027 July 2008 4