Country Operation NEPAL

INITIAL OBJECTIVES tinued providing material assistance in all seven-refugee camps located in eastern Nepal. · Protect and assist Bhutanese refugees until As of the end of June 2000, there were 98,269 a lasting solution is found. refugees in the seven camps.

· Support bilateral efforts by the Govern- The Home Ministry, through its Refugee Co- ments of Bhutan and Nepal to find such a ordination Unit in Jhapa, was responsible for durable solution. the registration of refugees and overall admini- stration of the camps. UNHCR has been pro- · Emphasise self-help activities and encour- moting the more active participation of the age the active involvement of refugees in refugees in camp management. The delivery of the management of their daily lives. assistance has been rationalised through in- creased refugee participation. Teachers, health · Help and assist Tibetan arrivals in transit, workers and food-distribution personnel as and advise other asylum-seekers on legal well as those who maintain the water-supply matters linked to their right to interna- system and other services in the camps, are tional protection. refugees themselves. This has increased self- reliance among the refugees and resulted in MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS, PROGRESS considerable savings to UNHCR’s programme ACHIEVED AND CONSTRAINTS delivery costs.

UNHCR continued to support the bilateral A total of 1,743.72 ton of fresh vegetables and talks between the Bhutanese and Nepalese condiments were provided to the refugees in Governments to seek solutions for Bhutanese the camps, which complemented the basic refugees who have been in Nepal for the last food ration provided by WFP. Dried skimmed nine years. In this connection, the High Com- milk was provided to malnourished refugee missioner visited both countries in April-May children. Safe drinking and domestic water 2000 and had a series of high-level discussions supply was provided in all seven camps. Basic with the authorities of both Governments. hygiene was maintained through the repair and maintenance of latrines, garbage collection and UNHCR’s electronic database on the Bhutan- vector control. Kerosene, as an alternative ese refugees was made available to the two Gov- cooking fuel, was distributed regularly to all ernments and UNHCR offered its technical ex- households to avoid deforestation of the areas pertise. The ninth round of bilateral discus- surrounding the camps. Routine maintenance sions between Bhutan and Nepal took place in and repair of refugees’ shelters were carried out May 2000 and significant progress was report- to ensure safety of camp residents. edly made on a number of long-standing issues between the two Governments. A contention Basic preventive and curative health facilities remains with regard to the definition of a operated satisfactorily in all the camps. Serious ‘family unit’, which would be the basis for the medical cases were referred to local hospitals. verification process. UNHCR has suggested a UNHCR provided the referral hospitals in formula for resolving this matter, which would Jhapa with funds to procure medicines and be equitable for all concerned and urged that, meet other related costs. the verification process start at the earliest pos- sible opportunity. A nutritional assessment of refugees living in camps was carried out in May 2000 and a Joint With lack of tangible progress towards a solu- WFP/UNHCR Food Assessment Mission took tion for the Bhutanese refugees, UNHCR con- place in the same month. A substantial de-

UNHCR Mid-Year Report 2000 - Page 161 - Country Operation crease in the incidence of Angular Stomatitis other supplementary income-generating activi- (Vitamine B2 deficiency) was noted this year as ties such as cotton weaving, ‘dhaka’- (a typical compared to last year. Increased knowledge of Nepali cotton cloth) weaving and chalk- the cause of this condition, the continuous making. supply of vegetables in food rations and pro- The arrival of the 17th Tibetan Karmapa in motion of kitchen gardens contributed to this Dharamsala, India in December 1999 has led improvement. In order to minimise the micro- to stricter border controls along the China- nutrient deficiency among refugee children, all Nepal border and has adversely affected adolescent girls received iron folate tablets and UNHCR’s missions to the border area. all children attending school received deworm- UNHCR has taken up the issue with the au- ing tablets. thorities to regain UNHCR’s uninterrupted ac- cess to the area. A total of 343 Tibetans arrived Refugee education initiatives were supported during the reporting period as compared to and UNHCR provided educational and recrea- 253 persons during the same period in 1999. tional materials. A total of 37,647 refugee chil- dren, of whom 47 per cent are girls, received REVISED OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITY primary and lower-secondary education pro- ACTIVITIES FOR JULY – DECEMBER vided in the camps through a local NGO. Scholarships were provided for both secondary Initial objectives set for 2000 remain un- school education and vocational training. A changed, pending a bilateral agreement be- non-formal education programme for men, tween Bhutan and Nepal on solutions for the women and previously unschooled children is Bhutanese refugees. UNHCR will continue its functioning satisfactorily in the camps with the regular consultations with the Nepalese and assistance of an international NGO and the ac- Bhutanese authorities to achieve such a solu- tive participation of Camp Development Com- tion. Efforts will continue to focus on increas- mittees. Training was provided to develop refu- ing awareness among government officials, par- gees’ skills and promote their participation in liamentarians and legislators, on refugee issues. camp management. UNHCR will also continue to monitor the Self-management skills were provided to vul- number of new Tibetan arrivals, and facilitate nerable refugee women. They were engaged in their travel to third countries. UNHCR will the production of jute mats, baby blankets, sa- also facilitate the issuance of refugee identifica- ris, blouses and petticoats under the Refugee tion documents for more than 20,000 Tibet- Women’s Forum operating in all seven camps. ans who arrived in Nepal prior to 1989 and In addition, refugee women participated in who are permitted to stay in the country.

FINANCIAL DATA (USD)

Initial Budget Revised Budget Total Funds Available* Total Funds Obligated AB and TF 5,429,264 5,414,206 2,848,276 2,628,700

*Includes income from unrestricted contributions, income from contributions restricted to the region/country, opening balance and adjustments.

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