F OCHA Situation Overview

Is sue No. 31, covering the period 12 July - 26 July 2008 Kathmandu, 27 July 2008

Highlights:

• Nepal’s first President and Vice President take office; President calls political party leaders to form Government • Shortage of essential supplies due to indefinite strike in Far-West Region • Floods inundating villages and displacing households in Eastern Region • Violence against civilians in Eastern Region • Nepal faces risk of stagflation, characterised by low economic growth, high unemployment and rising prices. • UNMIN extended for another six months

CONTEXT in many parts of the country after he took his oath in language. In Dhangadhi, Dang, Nepalgunj, Mahendranagar, Political situation Doti, Dadeldhura protestors burnt down the VP’s effigy. Meanwhile, PM Koirala officially handed over his resignation The protracted political struggle continued between the largest to President Yadav. Since 24 July, the President held four parties, Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists (CPN-M), consultations with leading parties on the new formation of the Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) government. Former Speaker and UML leader Subash party and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), as they failed to Nemwang was appointed as the CA Chairman unopposed. reach consensus on the candidates for the post of President. On Fourteen political parties including Nepali Congress (NC) and 13 July, the Constituent Assembly (CA) passed the Fifth Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) supported Nemwang for the Amendment Bill of the Interim Constitution making way to post. elect the President, Vice President (VP) and Chairperson through a simple majority if the parties failed to reach a The President asked the Maoist leaders to take immediate steps consensus on the candidates. As the largest elected party, the to form a government of national consensus. However, CPN-M CPN-M held intensive consultations with the three other main said there were three conditions that would allow consensus to parties, but NC and UML remained firm over their decision to be formed: the termination of the NC-UML-MJF alliance; the nominate their own leaders Prime Minister Girija Prasad Common Minimum Program (CMP) of the 25 political parties Koirala and former UML General Secretary Madhav Nepal. must feature the majority agenda of the Maoists; and finally, all UML was close to forging an alliance with CPN-M but fell out political parties should give a written commitment to allow the as the latter refused to accept Nepal as the presidential next government to function without any hindrances for at nominee and instead asked UML to recommend a female least two years. UML and NC criticised the Maoist for candidate or someone who could represent the marginalized prolonging the political deadlock by floating preconditions to community for the post of President to make the government lead the government. The Maoists, in turn, have been critical of inclusive. The UML had also asked for one of the “power the three party alliance which appears to be against the spirit of ministries” as part of the deal which CPN-M refused. On 16 the Seven-Party Alliance. The Madhesi parties recently told the July, the Maoists declared their own nominee, veteran President that there was an option of the simple majority republican Ram Raja Prasad Singh, for the President. After the provision in the CA if efforts to form a consensus government parties failed to reach consensus, the CA announced elections failed. Madhesh Democratic Party (TMDP) leaders also for President and Vice-President on 19 July. UML and NC also stressed the need for consensus. MJF Chairman Upendra declared their nominees, all of Madhesi origin. claimed that his party should be given the chance to lead the future government if parties fail to form a consensus MJF candidate Parmananda Jha was elected as the country's government. first VP beating his nearest rival Maoist nominee Shanta Shrestha. None of the presidential candidates secured the On July 15, the CA passed a special bill authorising the necessary majority of 298 votes, therefore the CA held a run-off government to incur advance expenditures totalling NPR 73.54 on 21 July. The NC General Secretary Dr. Ram Baran Yadav billion in the new fiscal year beginning from July 16 in absence was elected as the country’s first President in the run-off voting of the Fiscal Year Budget. participated by 590 Members of the Constituent Assembly (CA) and defeated Maoist candidate 72-year old Singh with 308 On 23 July, the Security Council voted unanimously to extend votes against 282. Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N), the United Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) for a further six months which has four seats in the CA, boycotted the election. as a special political mission ending 23 January 2009 to allow Although MJF had earlier announced its support for Singh, it for the completion of its monitoring and management of arms eventually voted for Yadav justifying that a strong presidential and personnel of the Nepal Army and the former Maoist candidate from another party was needed to challenge the combatants. Maoists in the government. Other small parties including National People’s Front (NPF), Chure Bhawar Ekata Samaj Safety and security (one vote), CPN-United and Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) also voted in favour of the NC candidate. From 12-14 July, about 25 ‘Riot Control Team Personnel’ of Nepal Police in Nepalgunj took eight senior officers hostage in On 22 July, the Maoist leaders declared that their party would protest of rampant corruption, misuse of resources and not form the new government. On 23 July, President Yadav providing low quality food to the rank and file. More than 200 and VP Jha took oath of their offices. The VP sparked protests police were mobilized to release the hostages. On 13 July, the Nepal Army dispatched its Ranger Battalion from Kathmandu

OCHA Nepal Situation Overview, Issue No. 31/27 July 2008 1 to help the Nepal Police, but the standoff ended peacefully after involved in various violent activities. On 13 July, District the agitating police surrendered on the condition that they treasurer of Maoist-affiliated Kirant Mukti Morcha (KMM) receive amnesty. An emergency cabinet meeting on 13 July assaulted the Chairman of the Community Forest Department ordered the Home Ministry to take stern measures to maintain in for not providing timber as per their discipline in all security bodies. Around 25 police personnel demand. On 15 July, Maoists captured the land belonging to a were arrested between 13 to 17 July as a result of the incident. civilian at Bhawani Kalabazzar VDC, . Cadres of ‘Young Youth’ of the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF) Strikes continue to have serious repercussions throughout the vandalized the office of a local newspaper Kripa at Sripur of Far-West Region (FWR). Strikes called from on 16 July. On 18 July, Maoist cadres threatened to since 13 July halted transportation in all Districts of the FWR kill two persons of Namadi VDC in for to date. From 13-24 July, the Kailali Chamber of Commerce filing a case against them. The Kirant Janabadi Workers’ Party and Industry (KCCI) organised a strike to protest the syndicate (KJWP) cadres have been intensifying violent activities in the system. From 20-26 July the Bus Association imposed a strike Eastern Region. They have been asking donations from local until its demands for compensation of a damaged bus during businessmen, VDC secretaries and NGO workers, and warning the KCCI protests were met. The bus and truck operators that nobody can work in the Kirant area without their regulating the frequency of their service are considered a permission. Local mule owners are being taxed for transporting syndicate system. Bus fares are regulated by the Government of good from Udayapur to Khotang. Nepal (GoN). However, in practice the bus association imposes their own fare, especially in the hilly districts and truckers are Reach of the State often charging more than the market price. The syndicate members physically threatened the independent plying of Frustration among government employees is growing due to trucks and buses. The existing legal provision is ineffective to constant attacks and threats mostly in the Eastern Region. On control the syndicate system, which was abolished by the 12 July in Bhojpur, KJWP cadres torched all official documents Government in 2001. Nevertheless, it is practiced in various of Bhaisi Pankha VDC. On the same day in , forms through the creation of committees and associations that KJWP cadres destroyed an under-construction repeater tower protest against the syndicate system. On 9 July, local of the Nepal Telecom situated at Hammapokhari of Kahule businessmen in Dhangadhi of Kailali District, staged a sit-in- VDC for not taking permission from their party for the work. protest at the District Administration Office (DAO), urging an KJWP has intensified their activities in southern VDCs end to the syndicate practiced by the Seti-Mahakali Truck adjoining Okhaldhunga, Udayapur and Bhojpur districts. Their Operators Association (SMTOA) and the Seti-Mahakali Bus prime targets are government infrastructure and employees. Entrepreneurs Association (SMBEA). The Federation of On 16 July, an unidentified group abducted two staff of the Nepalese Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) central Chairman Division for Water Induce Disaster Prevention Office from and Vice Chairman, among others, joined the protest and since Fulbariya VDC of . The local government 13 July, they organised an indefinite strike. Although KCCI officials in Saptari continue to protest against the alleged ended the strike on 24 July, the SMBEA continued its strike killing of District Education Officer (DEO) Mohammad Hasrat from 20-26 July demanding the government to provide Ansari at the hands of the YCL cadres on 12 July. While security of the SMBEA staff and compensation for their buses accusing Ansari of misusing government vehicle and carrying vandalized during the strike. (More on humanitarian impacts money earned from corruption, YCL cadres manhandled him of the strike in the Humanitarian section) in . The mistreatment caused Ansari to suffer a fatal stroke on the way to the hospital, according to Another major strike also took place during the reporting eyewitnesses. On 16 July, MJF cadres blocked the period. The indefinite strike called by student unions brought section on the East–West highway protesting against the Nepal several districts in all the regions of Nepal to a grinding halt Police for arresting a local on charges of abduction. Locals of protesting against the transport operators raising fares more Itahari in blocked vehicle movement on 19 than 25 percent and refusing to provide 45 percent concession. July, protesting the arrest of a local person accused of fatally The student-led strikes started in Palpa on 12 July and spread beating a local of Dulari in Morang District. to six other districts including Arghakhanchi, Rupendehi, Gulmi, Doti, Parbat, Bardiya and Baitadi including the capital. Operational space and humanitarian access Hundreds of people were stranded along the East-West, Mahendra, and Siddhartha Highways. Lack of transport also Due to frequent road blockade by different groups, I/NGOs constrained supplies of essentials like fuel, food and other daily have been facing challenges to implement and monitor commodities and risked the lives of patients needing medical development programmes. Due to the recent press release by aid. JTMM-J warning Pahade staff to leave the Terai, I/NGO employees are taking extra precautions during field movement. Violence against civilians continues throughout Nepal. On 16 NGOs working in the districts are using different coping July, Akhil Terai Mukti Morcha (ATMM) exploded an IED in mechanisms to adapt in the present volatile situation. Birgunj seriously injuring a woman and local journalist Donation demands from armed groups still continue. The Prakash Tiwari. On 17 July, Jwala Singh faction of Jantantrik motorbikes of the local aid workers are often seized while Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM-J) issued a weeklong ultimatum to travelling to VDCs for monitoring work. The Care Nepal office, the Pahade (of Hill origin) administrators and employees to which was attacked by an IED explosion on 10 July, remained quit Terai. The same day, an unknown armed group shot and closed, but is expected to open from 1 August 2008. injured three members of a family in Ramnagar VDC of . On 18 July, another unknown group killed HUMANITARIAN SITUATION three members of a family, including two minors of Raghopur VDC of Siraha. On 19 July, another unidentified gang shot dead Shortage of essential supplies due to indefinite strike in FWR a UML cadre at Parsahi Chowk of Mahottari District. In Dhanusa, a bomb explosion by Rajan Mukti-led JTMM injured During the reporting period, there was no vehicular movement three civilians also on the same day. Another IED explosion by for at least 15 days consecutive days in the FWR due to an unknown group on 20 July killed a nine-year old minor was transportation strikes. Daily life was paralysed throughout the killed and three other persons at Khairahawa VDC in Sarlahi FWR due to the overlapping indefinite transportation strikes District. There were also reports of the Maoist and MJF cadres

OCHA Nepal Situation Overview, Issue No. 31/27 July 2008 2 called by various organisations stemming from the Kailali District since 13 July. The strikes prevented lack of supply of essential items, including food, medical, materials and other commodities to the hilly and mountain. Thousands of people were stranded, with men, women and children compelled to walk long distances. Referred patients were deprived of medical services, as there was no means of transportation. People without access to self-subsistence living and those below the poverty line were generally more affected by the strike.

In Accham, food shortage worsened, leading to further price hike of commodities. Due to lack of delivery of medicines, there is a shortage of existing medical stocks. This is of particular concern given that during the current monsoon season there are high risks of disease outbreaks. In Baitadi, the Health Posts and Sub-Health Posts are also facing shortages of essential medicines. In Bajhang, the DHQ and the rural market centres faced shortages of daily essentials goods. The district is further affected by electricity cuts since 19 July. The shut down of the communication system due to damage of the electricity supply system has led to more hardship. In Bajura, the supplies for food and essential goods from Sanfebagar of Accham District stopped. The monsoon has cut off Darchula, where people rely on the markets for essential commodities. The food shortage has been growing. Normally traders in DHQ keep two months worth of supplies, but during the reporting period, there were reports of businessmen hiding the stock for fear of shortages. In Doti, there was a shortage of the daily consumable goods including medicines. In Kailali, people had to use the India routes to travel within the district and other parts of the country. Hardship is growing for mostly the wage labourers, who rely on the daily income. In Baliya of Kailali district, the District A young father in the food-deficit Thanbada village, Jajarkot, with his Health Office (DHO) had been unable to respond the malaria daughter showing signs of malnutrition. Photo by Olivia Kemp/WFP outbreak cases. Natural Disaster Preparedness activities in Kailali District have been affected. For instance, an INGO employment and rising prices. Rising food prices pose a severe working on community-based capacity building on disaster risk to the peace process if not taken seriously by all involved. response is having difficulties in transporting life jackets to the Highest increases in real prices during the past six months community. were observed for cooking oil (26 percent), coarse rice (19 percent) and kerosene (13 percent). This was during a period Food Security when rice prices normally decline by about 11 percent. Traders in rural areas expect that the price of coarse rice and kerosene In Accham, food shortages continued in 25 VDCs of the will increase by a further 11 and 8 percent respectively. Bhaisole area due to lack of Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) Observed increases in wholesale prices, transportation costs depot. It takes two days for the villagers to bring rice from the and farm gate prices confirm the likelihood of further increase DHQ. In Jajarkot, the District Food Corporation (DFC) noted in retail prices. The Indian ban on food exports have pushed up that the majority of people of Dasera, Pajaro and Rokay VDCs prices of restricted food items. The acute fuel shortage is face a food crisis. In Kalikot, people in Daha, Pankha, heavily affecting transportation costs and is one of the most Chhapra, Odanuk, Sukatiya, Mugraha and Gola VDCs suffered important factors in determining food prices. The average cost from food shortages caused by low crop yields. A total of 700 of transportation has increased by almost 27 percent and quintals of rice supplied to the NFC depots at Padamghat and further increases are imminent. More than 60 percent of Khallagadh during the winter was reportedly already traders indicate that the supply situation for commodities and consumed. Delay in food supply by aircraft in Soru and Srikot their sale volumes have deteriorated. Due to the price has caused food shortage in the nineteen VDC's of the Mugu increases, people have shifted their consumer behaviour to district. In Rukum, local media reported people facing a food buying smaller quantities and buying cheaper food items. crisis situation in the VDCs of Maikot, Hukam, Teksera, Sales on credit have increased substantially. An inverse Himgoiwang, Pelma and Relwete in Rukum‘s eastern belt relationship between rising food prices and food intake can be where the DFC was unable to supply food due to bad weather observed for the extreme poor and poor income groups. This in the pre-monsoon period. In 2007, it was agreed that food may result in higher malnutrition rates. depots would prevent future food crisis but the food depots were reportedly not established in the VDCs of Kol, Nayagadha, Health Hukam, Maikot, Aathbiskot and Rukumkot. The Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN)/Oxfam PHEBLeS programme of The monsoon season and poor sanitation condition has Surkhet and Dailekh are closely monitoring food insecurity. increased concerns of Dengue Fever in the Terai Districts of the MWR/FWR. Experts warned that Nepal is prone to spread of A new report, Market and Price Impact Assessment Nepal by dengue fever and urged the population to adopt high alert for World Food Programme (WFP) and Nepal Development disease prevention. An undiagnosed ailment killed four people Research Institute (NDRI),said that Nepal faces a serious risk in Kolti VDC of Bajura during the second week July. An of stagflation, a condition of low economic growth, high un- outbreak of ‘kala-azar’ hit Kohabara VDC-2 in . Most of those patients were squatters. The AIDS

OCHA Nepal Situation Overview, Issue No. 31/27 July 2008 3

Coordination Committee (DACC) stated in local media that submerged Gobargada village displacing all residents. In there are too few reports and information sharing from the Mahottari, around 44 families were affected at Paya Tole at numerous organisations working on HIV/AIDS related Malibar of Jaleshwor Municipality Due to surging water levels, programmes in the District. At least eight people died due to most of the children are ill because of the cold while others snakebites in the past two months in Kailali District. have developed skin allergies. A landslide affected several households in Darchula. Fearing landslides, several families Protection from the Simlepani of Tsaragana VDCs have reportedly moved to Bhatteghari forest of Dhangadhi. The sand sedimentation On 14 July, Kamaiya and Haliyah groups padlocked the District from the overflowing Doda River damaged at least 535 ha of Development Committee (DDC) Land Reform Office (LRO) in land belonging to 300 families in Amaraiya VDC, the MWR and FWR, demanding their rehabilitation. People Tribhuwanbasti VDC and Kalika-7 VDC, situated in the still work as bonded-labourers (Haliyah/Kamaiya) in the hill . On 18 July, heavy downpour damaged and mountain districts in the MWR and FWR. An estimated the electricity supply system and the telecommunications in 150,000 initiated a movement during the peak season of rice DHQ of Bajhang. In Sunkuda VDC, the landslide and flood plantation. The landless people organised an indefinite road affected 30 households and the flooded Seti River has washed block Jhalari of Kanchanpur District to protest the dismantling away the significant amount of the agricultural land in Luyata of 50 temporary huts by the DAO and a local Community and Syadi VDCs. Forest Users Group. Pre Monsoon workshops have been completed in all 27 Meanwhile, in , the locals are concerned that districts. Major decisions made by DDRC included among Chinese border of Olangchung Gola, which had opened for the others analysing stockpile compilation, provision for last couple of weeks, will be closed very soon. Tibetan market is emergency basket fund, identify focal persons for monsoon the only option for Olangchung Gola people to buy daily preparation, formation of local level disaster management consumables due to extreme difficulty to travel down to the committee for victim identification, relief distribution and district headquarters during monsoon. The border was closed vulnerability and damage analysis and classification of VDCs for last six months, first because of snowfall and then due to down to the levels of wards, community, village, river system, arrangements by border officials. and household. OCHA has created web pages of "Disaster Preparedness" and "Cluster Coordination" under its UN Refugees/IDPs Information Platform (http://www.un.org.np/DisasterPrepared ness/index.php) The issue of IDPs displaced to Sunsari District from Haripur remains of concern. OCHA Eastern Region team met the The Rajapur Delta is isolated from the DHQ of Warden of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve to explore possible due to lack of permanent bridge over the Karnali River. IRC is solutions. Security continues to be a challenge in the place of stockpiling preparedness materials, including NFIs, for 700 origin and land for resettlement is difficult to identify. families, hygiene kits and emergency food. NRCS has stockpiled NFIs for 50 families in Rajapur. ADRA-Nepal On 15 July, Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and INHURED supported the community level disaster preparedness meeting organised a workshop in Biratnagar on IDP policy and practice. in Tikapur of Kailali. RRN has 50 sets of NFI and 300 pieces of tarpaulins. The recovery and reconstruction are ongoing in six Floods and disaster preparedness VDCs of Banke and three VDCs of Bardiya. Recently RRN conducted preparedness training for the communities of Banke On 18 July, at least five people were killed due to the landslide and Bardiya. A total of 82 flood victims including 39 women at Katunje VDC in . Fifty houses in Gairigaun took part in the training. of Kagel VDC of are at the risk from landslide. Around 20 households were displaced after water of COORDINATION Lakhandei River entered into Laxmipur Sukchaina and Sundarpur VDCs of . Floods have also affected OCHA continues to coordinate with DDRC/CDO, DPNet focal around a dozen villages around Rautahat. In Sunsari, seven point organizations (I/NGOs) for pre-monsoon preparedness VDCs have been affected. Over 13 houses were flooded in in the districts. Inaruwa where six families were displaced. Floods triggered by continuous rainfall inundated over two dozen villages in UPCOMING EVENTS . Flood at local Khado River burst open the dam near Biroul village and flooded Dumari and villages Eastern Region Contact Group, 31 July 11:00 am. ruining food, clothes and other household belongings. , OCHA Conference Room, Biratnagar. , Sakarpura, Babhavgama Kati and Mahadeva villages were also submerged after the dam at the bordering Indian Contact Group Meeting, Wednesday 6 August 10:30 am. village broke open, unable to hold the surging water UN House Conference Room, Kathmandu. level of Khado River. Similarly, flood in Koshi River

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. 31/27 July 2008 4