F OCHA Situation Overview

Issue No. 21, covering the period 01 February – 29 February 2008 Kathmandu, 3 March 2008

Highlights : • Agreements between the Government and Madhesi and ethnic groups break deadlock • Preparations for Constituent Assembly (CA) elections delayed but on course • strike paralyses the country, triggers commodity price hikes • The World Food Programme (WFP) reports dwindling food stocks • Destruction of government offices continue to affect the ‘reach of state’ • Humanitarian and Development actors continue to face access challenges • Displacements reported in Eastern Nepal • Nepal allocated US $6 million in CERF underfunded window • IASC Contingency planning workshop held

CONTEXT Chandra Poudel and including a representative of each member of the SPA with the task of engaging in talks with the agitating Politics and Major Developments groups. Despite frequent appeals to all protesting groups, Political tensions reached a high level in February, and affected including the UDMF, to sit for talks, a first meeting between economic and social life across the country, causing significant UDMF representatives and the Prime Minister was held on 15 disturbances to daily routines and considerable suffering to February. The protracted negotiations lasted until 27 February, common people. A gradually worsening situation in the Terai, when a consensus was almost derailed by a late demand by the and also some hill districts, triggered by prolonged Madhesi leaders to postpone the date of the election by a bandhs/strikes, curfews and fuel shortages threatened to month. However, the eventual agreement included a reference become a serious challenge to the peace process and the to the agreed date of the polls. However, the 8-point agreement planned elections to the Constituent Assembly (CA). was rejected by various armed groups in the Madhesh and the Technically, preparations for the 10 April elections were going nature and extent of the FRNF’s demands made an agreement ahead, with the Election Commission (EC) doing its best to with that group uncertain. Talks with the other ethnic-based stick to the election timetable. Although the Government and groups were underway after long delays and were concluded its major political components had announced to go ahead with two days after the Government/UDMF deal. Both agreements the scheduled elections ‘at all cost’, doubts whether the election contain commitments to a Republican, federal Nepal, would be held on schedule remained until last minute deals recognition for ‘martyrs’, the implementation of earlier were struck. On 28 February, the Government and the agreements and a more equitable representation of hitherto agitating Madheshi parties (UDMF) were able to reach an 8- neglected or excluded communities. Specific arrangements, point agreement which ended the Terai strike (see also OCHA however, need to be worked out by the Constituent Assembly. Nepal Situation Update of 22 February), and cleared a major obstacle for keeping the 10 April elections on schedule. On 1 By the original deadline of 20 February for the submission of March, the Government signed an agreement with the ethnic candidate lists for the proportional representation (PR) race of group umbrella organisation FRNF ending another long- the election, only 37 of the 74 registered political parties had lasting political standoff and strikes that had been called by the submitted lists. The EC, upon request from the government FRNF’s member organisations. extended the deadline for nominations for the proportional representation (PR) segment of the election first to 24 On 8 February three Madheshi political parties united to form February, in order to allow other political parties that had not the “United Democratic Madheshi Front” (UDMF); a tactical complied with the deadline to submit its list. A further two alliance to negotiate collectively with the SPA Government and parties submitted lists, but not the Madheshi parties in to engage in protest action in the Terai. The three parties are negotiations with Government for whom the deadline had been the ’s Rights Forum (MPRF), the Nepal extended. Finally, with the second extension of the deadline (SP- Mahato) and the Terai-Madhes following the two landmark agreements, another 16 parties Loktantrik Party (TMDP - Mahant Thakur). Subsequently, the filed nominations by 2 March, bringing the total number of new alliance presented six immediate demands, including a candidates up to 5882. constitutional amendment to establish one autonomous Terai state within a federal democratic republic with a right to self- While the agreements with the UDMF and the FRNF are determination of the Madheshi people. On 13 February, the significant achievements and cleared the way to the 10 April UDMF started an indefinite strike that led to the closure of elections, a number of political parties, such as three smaller government offices, disruption of public services, declaration of parties in the (PFN, NWPP, ULF) and a curfews in certain districts and clashes between protestors and number of armed groups in the Terai have been quoted as the security forces resulting in the death of at least 9 (including opposing the deals. two police) and injury to several hundreds. Bandhs were also called from 13 February by member organizations of the During the reporting period, the main political parties started Federal Republican National Front (FRNF); in the Limbuwan campaign activities for the CA election, with tensions also region (eastern hills) by the Federal Democratic National simmering among some of the partners in the governing Seven Forum (FDNF) and, in the western Terai, by the United Tharu Party Alliance (SPA). In particular the activities by the Young National Front (UTNF) in Bardiya, Dang and Kailali districts. Communist League (YCL) and other organizations associated with the CPN-Maoist aimed at disrupting electioneering On 11 February, the ruling alliance constituted a new team activities of other political parties as well as the heavy-handed headed by the Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram response by the security forces led to a number of altercations

OCHA Nepal Situation Overview, Issue No. 21 / February 2008 1 between the CPN-Maoist and its SPA partners. On 5 February, Conflict and Security a (NC) Member of Parliament and former The Government’s special security plan to support the Minister, police and civilians were injured when attacked by a forthcoming CA elections entered its second stage which will mob allegedly mobilized by CPN/M affiliates in Darchula last until April 10, the date set for CA elections. The deployment district of Far Western Region. Similar tensions among of a 'Special Task Force' (STF) consisting of Nepal Police and political parties were also reported in other parts of the Armed Police Force (APF) in the Terai region that had begun in country. Confrontations and occasional violence has also December 2007 continued. Also, the Government ordered the continued among the various students organizations affiliated deployment of elements of the Nepal Army to guard strategic with the major political groups. installations across the country in order to free up police and armed police personnel for CA election security. An increase in arrests by security forces has been reported during this period. However, the impact of these measures on the security situation could not be immediately felt. In particular in rural areas, police presence has been reported to have decreased.

Bandhs and spontaneous blockades called by various groups continued to affect the security situation across the country. From 13 February, daily life and public transport were paralyzed in all regions except the Far West. Curfews were imposed by local authorities in much of the Terai district headquarters, in particular in Banke, Bara, Parsa, Nawalparasi, Sunsari, Mahottari, Dhanusha and Saptari. Nepalgunj (Banke) was severely affected by a 24 hour curfew for several days. In Siraha, Birgunj, and Rupandehi the District Administration Offices enforced prohibitory orders to control the situation. Similarly, in response to the strike in the Terai, which blocked fuel tankers from reaching the Kathmandu valley, the Government imposed curfews along the main routes and

United Democratic Madhesi Front protests rally - Police forces were provided armed escorts for tankers, eventually using security on high alert when the indefinite strike hit the Terai. UN Photo forces to drive the trucks after drivers had refused to do so, citing continued security risks. In another development, the (NSP- Killings in the context of protests or curfew violations among Anandidevi) left the Seven Party Alliance, in protest against others, were reported, especially in eastern and Central Terai. what it stated as continued discrimination by the Government Between 13 February and 28 February, 9 people were against the Madheshi community and the failure of the SPA to reportedly killed across the country, 7 by security forces while sack the industry Minister as had been suggested by the party. enforcing curfews and 2 policemen were killed while on duty. The party however continues to be affected by an internal split, Operational Space as the faction led by Minister Gupta continued to support the Government and has submitted a list of nominations for the CA Different groups, notably Madheshi Tigers, factions of JTMM elections. as well as CPN-Maoist continued to interfere with the operations of development and humanitarian partners and In a separate development during the reporting period, agencies. Threats and abductions aimed principally at NGOs Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP-Nepal), one of the political operating in the Terai districts continued in February. parties that supports the monarchy, launched a strike programme against the third amendment to the Interim Nepal On 16 February in Bara district, a UN staff travelling in a Constitution which calls for the mandatory abolishment of the marked UN vehicle received minor facial injuries when monarchy subject to the approval of the newly elected CA, and demonstrators pelted the vehicle with stones. On 17 February, a subsequently announced that it would boycott the CA election Red Cross First Aid team attending to injured people in altogether. Jaleshwor, Mahottari district was manhandled and their medical kits were stolen, preventing the First Aid teams from carrying out their humanitarian work in the district. On 18 February in , an UN staff member was injured in the head when demonstrators pelted the vehicle with stones. Also on 18 February, a Mahottari District Red Cross ambulance carrying 3 injured persons was vandalized on its way to Janakpur Hospital. On 19 February, a UN field monitor travelling by motorcycle in Udayapur district was stopped by protestors enforcing a bandh and had to be escorted out of the area by a UN mission. On 19 February, following these incidents, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) issued a press release calling upon demonstrators and security personnel to respect Medical personnel and transportation means at all times and to allow medical staff, ambulances and humanitarian workers to carry out their tasks during strikes and demonstrations. OHCHR also issued a press release calling upon all parties to respect human rights following the harassment of human rights monitors who were monitoring demonstrations in Biratnagar, Morang district.

Celebrations in Nepalgunj following the end of the strike and the Due to threats and the uncertain security situation in parts of agreement between UDMF and the government. Photo credit: OCHA the Terai and fuel shortages, a number of I/NGOs operating in

OCHA Nepal Situation Overview, Issue No. 21 / February 2008 2 the areas were forced to change their mode of programme suitable temporary accommodation for the IDPs who are implementation or shift their programmes to safer areas. Many unwilling to return to their homes. agencies and I/NGOs have reported an increased sense of insecurity among their national staff in particular while According to human rights groups operating in Eastern working in the Terai. These organizations reportedly withdrew Region’s Ilam district, 84 newly displaced youth from Larumba the affected staff or allowed them to relocate to safer areas. village sought assistance and protection following their displacement from Larumba by a village force. Reach of the State The ability of the state to deliver basic services continued to be Food compromised by different groups owing to strikes, abductions, On 11 February, the World Food Programme (WFP) released a threats and intimidation by various groups. During the Food Security Monitoring report which among other things reporting period, several government offices were targeted by stated that the average household food stocks have gone down different groups, with consequences on the ability to deliver by half in 38 districts in the last three months, compared to the services. On 19 February, a pressure cooker bomb was same period last year. The report further stated that the detonated at the Sunsari District Administration Offices (DAO) situation was “very critical, particularly for the extremely poor by JTMM (Jwala Singh) cadres, causing damage to the office who make up about 15 per cent of the population” and and compelling the office to be shifted. Similarly, on 25 estimated that around 3.8 million people were vulnerable to February, a bomb explosion damaged the district Soil food shortage. WFP further reported that due to the indefinite Conservation Office in , . On the same strike called by different groups, it was becoming extremely day, protestors entered the premises of the Nepal difficult to ensure that the Bhutanese refugees in the camps Telecommunications Office in Jaleshwor, Mahottari district receive their complete food basket on time. and destroyed the telephone lines in the office, consequently disrupting telephone services in the district. On 26 February, The ban on export of non-basmati rice put in place by a supporters of UDMF reportedly burnt the area forest and post few months ago, coupled with increasing fuel prices, fuel office in Kanchanpur, Saptari district. Similarly, the land of shortages and transportation strikes were impacting on the Saptari district was also vandalized by protestors on 26 food security situation across Nepal, including the 7 refugee February. On 26 February, a bomb explosion also destroyed camps that require approximately 400MT of food per week. Nepal Telecom and Survey office in Rajbiraj, Saptari district. Reports from most districts in the Terai region indicated that prices of essential commodities including food items that were While preparations for the planned CA elections largely not locally grown increased from between 20-40% during the remained on track, weak presence of state security hampered last two weeks of February, due to logistical constraints directly the technical preparations for elections in some districts. related to the two-week long strikes. During the reporting period, bombs were detonated in EC offices in Banke and Bara districts and EC returning officers Load-shedding resulted in 8 hour power cuts daily across the were attacked in Nawalparasi district. Disturbances affecting country during the month of February. On 29 February, the preparations for CA elections were also reported in Siraha, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, a Saptari and Udayapur districts. private sector umbrella group, estimated that the recent crisis, combined with power cuts and supply problems, had led to a The announcement by the CPN-Maoist that it would revive its more than 60 per cent reduction in production. United Revolutionary People’s Councils (local and regional Health committees) raised initial fears and protests, and statements that this would be a breach of earlier agreements including the Due to the indefinite strike that had been called by UDMF and CPA. The CPN-Maoist however claimed that it would adhere to other groups, health services and the medical supply delivery, the CPA and would not resuscitate its parallel governance especially outside the district headquarters of the seriously structures, but would only strengthen its internal organization affected Terai districts were compromised. WHO reported that in order to promote development at the local level, find its teams were unable to continue with surveillance and solutions where the state is ineffective or absent and mobilize vaccination against polio that had been reported in some of the its supporters for elections. Terai districts. Similarly, a reported outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis in Janakpur could not be verified due to the strike. Similarly due to continuation of attacks and vandalism of HUMANITARIAN NEEDS AND RESPONSES ambulances by protestors, transporting sick and injured people to health facilities in the East and Central Terai districts Population movement and Protection continued to be a challenge. During the reporting period, a number of IDPs continued returning to their former places of residence either Education spontaneously or with the support of I/NGOs and the From 6 February, academic institutions throughout the country government. OCHA and UNHCR conducted a joint IDP were shut down for several days due to a strike called by the mission to Sankwasabha district and were informed that 60 Nepal Educational Republican Forum (NERF). The NERF IDP families have returned in Sankwasabha district, with 12 called the educational strike claiming that the government had families having received transport assistance from the not implemented previous agreements with NERF; that government. Similarly, OCHA continued to support the included among others providing permanent appointments to Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction in drafting guidelines the temporary teachers working in government and community that would strengthen IDP components of the proposals schools through a systematic procedure. As from 13 February, submitted to government Peace Trust Fund. many educational institutions remained closed due to the shortage of diesel needed for school busses to operate as well as During the reporting period, OCHA, ICRC and Nepal Red due to bandhs and curfews in many districts. In Kathmandu Cross conducted field visits to follow up with the 60 IDP valley alone, over 50 academic institutions were reportedly families who had been displaced from Haripur, Sunsari closed owing to fuel shortages. From 13-28 February, all public district. The assessment team noted that the IDPs required schools were closed in the Banke, Dang and Bardiya Districts food items and follow-up from the authorities regarding due to the curfew and strikes.

OCHA Nepal Situation Overview, Issue No. 21 / February 2008 3

Avian Influenza allocation of the funds to UN and partners covering projects During the reporting period, at the request of the Government, that had been submitted in the 2008 Common Appeal for an FAO headquarters mission was deputed to Nepal to assess Transition Support in under-funded sectors. the vulnerability of the country to avian influenza and to assess the national capacity. The mission visited different parts of the On 20 February, OCHA hosted the contact group meeting and country and in its preliminary findings reported that from a continued facilitating other sectoral groups. OCHA also veterinary perspective, Nepal is at moderate risk of Avian released a Situation Update covering the developments in the Influenza infection due to proximity to infected countries such country following the UMDF strike in the Terai (to access the as Bangladesh and India. The mission further concluded that report, please visit www.un.org.np ) surveillance and laboratory capacity of the government is very weak and is made worse by power cuts and fuel shortages. With the departure and retirement of Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator Matthew Kahane on 25 February, the Emergency Relief Coordinator has proposed that the the in-coming COORDINATION Resident Coordinator, Robert Piper, also be designated as Humanitarian Coordinator. Mr. Piper's career with the United The Nepal Inter-Agency Standing Committee with the support Nations in the humanitarian, management and development of OCHA conducted a two–day contingency planning workshop fields, includes roles such as Chief of Staff to the Special Envoy on 25-26 February 2008. The objective of the workshop was to for the Tsunami recovery and as United Nations Development update and consolidate contingency plans covering natural Coordinator for Kosovo. Mr. Piper is due to take up his duties disaster and civil unrest scenarios. The workshop was attended in Kathmandu on March 10, 2008. by 87 participants from 46 organizations representing the Government, UN agencies, donors, I/NGOs and local NGOs. Participants agreed to compile the IASC contingency plan UPCOMING EVENTS through the cluster leads by the middle of March 2008. The next Contact Group meeting has been tentatively scheduled Following the allocation to Nepal of US $6 million through the for 19 March. Confirmation and details will be communicated under funded window of the CERF component, the Inter- in due course. Agency Standing Committee (IASC) discussed the final

The information in this report is consolidated from media, UN, NGO, and other humanitarian partners. This report is subject to availability of data. If you have inputs for the next issue, or questions/comments on the current issue, please contact: Marcus Brand, Humanitarian Affairs Analyst on 98418 29420, [email protected]

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

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OCHA Nepal Terai Situation update February 2008-, Issue No. 1 5