F OCHA Situation Update: Crisis in the Terai

Issue No. 1, 2008 Kathmandu, 22 February 2008

Key point s: • Curfew declared in five districts • Explosions cause damage in state offices • Clashes between security forces and protesters result in death, injuries • Food and fuel supplies dwindling • UN, I/NGO programmes suspended in several districts • Education services affected and schools closed • Sub-health posts functions impaired, District Health facilities operating • Government offices targeted, many closed • Humanitarian and Development actors face access challenges

Context when one person was shot dead and 11 hospitalised, OHCHR On 13 February, the United Democratic Madhesi Front called upon the police to avoid using firearms in non-life (UDMF) called an indefinite bandh /strike until the threatening situations. The press release further deplored government meets their demands. The UDMF is comprised of numerous incidents where both protestors and the police have three groups, namely the Madhesi People’s Rights Forum attacked journalists. (MPRF), the Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Mahato), and the Terai- Madhes Loktantrik Morcha (TMDP), who joined to lead the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) Madhesi protest movement. UDMF demands include has directed UN agencies to limit their movement in affected declaration of an autonomous federal Madhesi state, areas to essential missions only. A number of UN and I/NGO adjustments to the existing quota system for the election, and offices remain closed in areas where the curfew was declared, greater representation of Madhesis and other marginalised with many staff working from home. groups in state institutions. A new alliance of Tharu groups has emerged in the western Terai and demanded, among other Humanitarian Access things, a provision for an autonomous Tharu state before the On 19 February, following the vandalizing of a Red Cross Constituent Assembly (CA) elections. This group also launched Ambulance while taking injured people to hospital and the an indefinite strike from 13 February. In eastern Nepal, the manhandling of the Red Cross first aid teams attending to the Federal Limbuwan State Council continued with their strike, injured people in Mahotari and Dhanusa districts, the demanding release of activists who had been arrested. On 18 International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) issued a February, Tamsiling State Council, a group previously press release calling upon demonstrators and security associated with the CPN-Maoist, called an indefinite bandh in personnel to respect medical personnel and transportation the northern districts of the Central Region. This bandh was means at all times and to allow medical staff, ambulances and reported to be effective in Ramecchap, Rasuwa and Kavre humanitarian workers to carry out their tasks during strikes districts. Bandh /strikes have affected many sectors adversely and demonstrations. and led to closure of most offices, including those of I/NGOs in the affected districts. In Biratnagar on 19 February, youths opposed to an ongoing protest verbally and physically threatened four OHCHR staff Security members who were monitoring the situation and threatened to According to human rights and media reports, the strike called damage an OHCHR vehicle. Police deployed nearby when the by UDMF had the greatest impact and affected 14 districts in incident occurred failed to intervene. As a consequence of these the southern belt (Terai). Following clashes in several districts threats, human rights defenders, including OHCHR, were between protestors and security personnel that led to the death unable to effectively monitor the events. of two people (Siraha and ) the government imposed curfews in Morang, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, On two occasions UN vehicles have been struck by rocks during Bara, Parsa, and Banke district headquarters. Curfews were demonstrations and at roadblocks. lifted briefly in some of these districts, but as of 22 February, remained in place most of the day in Nepalgunj (Banke district) Due to the strike, a number of UN and I/NGOs programmes and Biratnagar (). In Dhanusa district, the planned from 13 February have been suspended. election office was burnt down on 20 February. In , a pressure cooker bomb exploded at the District Food Administration Offices (DAO), partially damaging the offices Increasing fuel prices, fuel shortages and transportation strikes and forcing the DAO office to be relocated coupled with a ban on export of non-basmati rice put in place

by a few months ago, are already showing their impact on On 20 February, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) issued a press release calling on all the food security situation across Nepal, including the seven sides in the Terai protest to end violence and excessive use of refugee camps that require approximately 400MT of food per force. The press release urged the Nepal police and Armed week. The World Food Programme (WFP) reported that due to Police Force ( APF) to exercise restraint in response to protests the strike, it was becoming extremely difficult to ensure that but also called upon the protesting groups to use only peaceful Bhutanese refugees in camps in receive their means. Citing examples of excessive use of force and live ammunition after the declaration of a curfew in Nepalgunj complete food baskets on time.

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

In a number of Hill districts, basic food, fresh fruits and the affected district headquarters due to transport problems. vegetables are becoming scarce in areas where these items are Medical supplies and delivery of heath services to these outlets not locally produced. In Eastern Region’s hill district of Ilam could be seriously affected if the strike continues. A number of and Tehrathum, shortage of essential food supplies like rice health programmes, including a health camp organised by and cooking oil was reported as markets remained closed. UNFPA targeting 250 patients in , was called off Prices of vegetables have increased due to the rise in due to the strike. goods transportation costs and shortages. In Kathmandu the fruit and vegetable markets are only receiving about one third of the Education normal daily requirement for fruit and vegetables. The impact According to UNICEF, the strike has seriously affected of the strike on food supplies was reportedly being felt in educational institutions across the country. In Eastern region, Dailekh and Rukum districts. Closure of markets in Bardiya, most schools and other educational institutions have remained Banke and Dang since 13 February has also broken the supply closed since 13 February in Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha, chain and led to shortage of some essential commodities in Jhapa, Udaypur and Tehrathum. Only the majority of schools these districts. in are reportedly functioning. In Central Region, the Terai districts were the most affected, but a number of hill Water district educational institutions that rely on public transport, The water situation in major urban centres outside the Terai including Kathmandu based schools faced difficulties in had been problematic even before the strike. The imposition of running education programmes due to fuel shortages. In Mid electricity load shedding for eight hours per day in Kathmandu Western Region, Nepalgunj of Banke District has been most and other irregular electricity disruptions has made the affected, with schools remaining closed due to curfew which has situation worse. The Nepal Drinking Water Corporation had only been intermittently been lifted since 17 February. only been able to supply one quarter of the city’s water requirements and this situation has now been further Transportation/ fuel shortage exacerbated by the general strike. Some water suppliers have Transport services continued to be disrupted in almost all the been making deliveries during the early mornings and evening 20 Terai districts and a number of hill districts for both public times; however this has become increasingly difficult due to the and private vehicles. The general strike has resulted in almost ongoing transportation difficulties. Many private water no vehicle movement in most parts of the country except distributors are either not operating regularly or are closed due Kathmandu with private entrepreneurs generally choosing not to power and diesel shortages. Water prices have increased to travel due to fear of retaliation or fuel shortage. On a due to increased demand and increased transportation costs. number of occasions demonstrators have burnt or vandalized public buses, milk trucks and private vehicles that have Health ventured on to the major highways. The government provide A number of districts where the bandh is effective reported that police escort to a number of fuel tankers transporting fuel from there was no scarcity of medical personnel or medicine at Birgunj in to Kathmandu. Shortages of gas, district headquarters. Similarly, the outpatients department of including cooking fuel and kerosene for lanterns, continue to be major health outlets in most districts remained open except reported in many districts across the country. Dhanusa and Mahottari where demonstrators are reported to have locked out health personnel from their offices since 17 In Kathmandu taxis, tempos, buses and privately owned motor February. Further reports indicate that except for emergency cycles have not been operating due to severe shortage of fuel, units, there is a significant decrease in the number of patients instead spending the several hours in long lines in fuel outlets accessing major health facilities in the affected districts. in different parts of the town. Public transport is difficult to Reports indicate that available medical personnel were not able find with the numbers of taxis, tempos and public buses either to visit a number of health posts and health facilities outside off the road or in lung queues at gas stations.

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: Vincent Omuga, Humanitarian Affairs Officer on 9851072870, [email protected] or OCHA regional offices:

Leith Baker Head of Eastern Region OCHA Sub- Office Telephone 021 537357 Mobile: 9851014279

Kendra Clegg Head of MWR/FWR OCHA Sub-Office Telephone: 081526238 Mobile: 9851001659

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 Terai Situation update February 2008-, Issue No. 1 2

OCHA Nepal Terai Situation update February 2008-, Issue No. 1 3