F OCHA Situation Overview

Is sue No. 10/ February Kathmandu, February 19 2007

Highlights:

• unrest triggers shortage of petroleum products across the country • Bandhs called by Madhesi and other groups paralyse life in east and central Terai • Citizenship Certificate distribution and voter lists updates continue amidst challenges • First phase of registration of arms, armies in PLA cantonment sites completed • Re-establishment of police posts in East and Central Terai disrupted by insecurity • Drought and adverse weather conditions affect winter crop production • Field draft version of Transition Appeal completed

CONTEXT declare Nepal a Federal Republic with guarantee to regional autonomy; Immediately form an interim government, Politics and major developments announce a date for the Constituent Assembly polls, properly manage the Cantonment sites, fulfil the genuine demands of On 23 January, the UN Security Council approved Security minority groups, solve the problems of martyrs, missing Council Resolution 1740 providing for a United Nations persons and political detainees; make Rayamajhi report public, Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) with a mandate of 12 months to punish the members of the royal government who suppressed monitor the ceasefire and assist in the Constituent Assembly the peoples’ movement in April 2006 and nationalise the elections. The Secretary General subsequently appointed Ian property of the King and other royal family members. The first Martin as his Special Representative and head of UNMIN. of such rally took place in Kathmandu on 13 February to mark During the reporting period, UNMIN also reported that the the 12 th anniversary of the ‘people’s war’ and was addressed by first phase of registration of CPN-Maoist arms and armies in senior CPN-Maoist leaders including its Chairman Prachanda. the 7 cantonment sites had been completed. OCHA regional During this meeting, Prachanda among other things warned offices continued giving logistic and administrative support to that if various elements continued to hatch conspiracy against the UNMIN teams. Constituent Assembly polls scheduled for June, CPN-Maoist would lead other parties in declaring Nepal a Republic in April. In preparation for the planned Constituent Assembly (CA) CPN-Maoist Organised another such meeting in Biratnagar on elections, citizenship registration and voters’ list updates went 18 February and plans to hold 7 other similar rallies across the on in most parts of Mid and Far-Western regions, with reports country. that all the District Election Commission Offices had completed the initial phase of voter registration in Mid and Far The killing of a Madhesi Peoples’ Right Forum (MPRF) activist Western Regions with the exception of remote mountain in Lahan, allegedly by a CPN-Maoist cadre on 19 Village Development Committees (VDCs). Similarly, January triggered demonstration and Bandh called by MPRF citizenship registration was reportedly progressing well in Mid and other Madhesi groups calling for proportional and Far-Western Regions, albeit at a slow pace than previously representation of Madhesi groups in the CA as well as anticipated. The Surkhet Chief District Officer (CDO) informed amending the interim constitution to provide for a Federal OCHA that due to remoteness of some villages and lack of system of governance in Nepal. On 31 January, the Prime proper documentation by the applicants, the citizenship Minister Girija Prasad Koirala in his televised address to the registration teams had distributed cards in only 14 out of the nation urged all agitating Madhesi groups to withdraw their 50 VDCs in the district. He expressed reservations over the protest and sit for talks. He expressed his commitment to opt likelihood of completing the exercise within the two months’ for a federal system of governance and add more electoral period as previously planned. Initial reports from Mid and Far constituencies to the Terai and other districts in proportion to Western region indicated that the majority of new citizenship the growth in population. The Madhesi leaders responded to certificate recipients were women. In the Eastern Terai and the Prime Minister’s address by stating that it showed other areas, both citizenship and voter registration went on but indifference to the issues they had raised and vowed to with difficulties. For example, on 24 January, CPN-Maoist continue with the strike. The strike continued, prompting Cadres reportedly asked the Election Office to further consultation between the SPA alliance and the CPN- stop the exercise, arguing that the exercise had been started Maoist, leading to the Prime Minister’s second address to the without consulting CPN-Maoist. On 28 January, Cadres of nation on 7 February, which among other things, promised an Terai Janatantrik Mukti Morcha (TJMM) are reported to have amendment to the interim constitution to include 49% seized all documents including voters name updating forms representation of Terai districts in the House of from election officials in Pipra VDC of Siraha district. Similarly, Representatives. The MPRF hailed the address as a ‘first on the same day, officials deployed to compile voters’ lists in political victory of the Madhesi people’ and termed it as ‘partial Jante and Sanichare VDCs of were sent away success’, suspended the strike for 10 days in order to provide a by CPN-Maoist village officials. During the reporting period, conducive environment for talks and urged the Madhesi to CPN-Maoist also reportedly disturbed voter registration teams carefully continue with peaceful movement. However, MPRF in Bhairahawa of as well as in Kathmandu. subsequently refused to join in the talks and announced a new protest programme, citing the resignation of the home minister During the reporting period, the CPN-Maoist announced a 9- and formation of high level probe commission to investigate day rally programme with a set of 13 point demands, calling suppression of the Terai unrest as a precondition for joining upon the government and others to; respect the letter and the talks. During the reporting period, the Jwala Singh faction spirit of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, immediately of TJMM announced that they had suspended all ‘military

OCHA Nepal Situation Overview, Issue No. 10/Feb 1 actions’ and would participate in the talks with a 10 point Due to a high incidence of public demonstrations and demand once a date is set. On 13 February, TJMM’s Jwala road/highway closures during the reporting period by MPRF Singh stated that his group would not support MPRF protest and other groups sympathetic to the Madhesi cause, the programmes if the latter resumed it after its 10 day deadline District Administration Offices (DAO) imposed day time expired and neither would his TJMM faction attend the talks as curfews in Kalaiya municipality of , Gaur and a single entity together with TJMM faction of J.K. Goit. Goit’s Chandranigahapur of Rautahat district, Janakpur of Dhanusha TJMM faction had earlier reportedly dismissed call for talks by District, of Parsa District, Malangwa of Sarlahi District the Prime Minister and vowed to continue with their in Central Region; Lahan and Siraha of Siraha District, programmes. Inaruwa in as well as Biratnagar of Morang District in the Eastern Region. Substantial damage by During the reporting period, proliferation of different ethnic protestors to buildings, including government offices and and political groups, with varying caste and regional autonomy police stations was reported in all the areas where day time demands and ultimatums to the interim government was curfews were imposed. The unstable security environment noticed. These groups include Nepal Federation of Indigenous prompted the UN to upgrade the security phase from 2 to 3 in Nationalities (NEFIN), Federal Democratic Republic Joint six Central Terai districts of Bara, Dhanusa, Mahotari, Parsa, Struggle Committee, Tharu Kalyankarini Sava (Tharu Welfare Rautahat and Sarlahi. Assembly), Loktantrik Madhesi Mukti Morcha and Federal Republican Forum. Many of these groups have demanded Due to the Terai unrest, the reporting period saw diminishing proportional representation in the Constituent Assembly and supplies of cooking gas, petrol and diesel across the country, reiterated calls for Nepal to be declared a Federal Republic . with supplies in Kathmandu reaching critical levels, resulting in long queues in government owned and Security Forces operated petrol stations, marked reduction of vehicles in the Conflict and Security roads and an increase in transportation costs. In turn the fuel shortage created a water shortage which is further exacerbated During the reporting period, re-establishment of police posts by the electricity load-shedding schedule of up to 7 hours per that had been displaced during the conflict continued across day . Though food was generally available across the country during the country. The restoration of police posts went on well in the MPRF called bandh, the closure of markets in Eastern and most Western, Mid Western and Far Western Districts. Central Terai made food inaccessible. This in turn created However, due to limited resources, more police posts could not artificial shortages, with reported increase in price of fruits and be re-established in Syangja and Baglung districts of Western vegetables by 15-20% in Eastern, Central and Western regions. Region. Similarly, the re-opening of two police posts in could not be undertaken owing to reported objection by the CPN-Maoist. In Mid Western Region, most of the police posts had reportedly been restored and were in the process of being equipped. In Far Western Region, all the police posts had reportedly been re-established save for one in where the CDO informed OCHA that there were some reported problems attributed to CPN-Maoist in Bungal area police post and that he had dispatched an all party investigation team to deal with.

In the Eastern region, especially in the Terai Districts, the re- establishment of police posts suffered setback due to insecurity with reported attacks and confiscation of weapons in some of the re-established police posts by TJMM elements. This reversed the gains previously made, with reported closure of 20

Photo Credit:OCHA police posts in Siraha, 13 in Saptari, 10 in Sunsari and 8 in Morang districts. Claiming that they were unnecessary, CPN- A section of Mahendra highway blocked by MPRF Protestors Maoist also reportedly blocked the re-establishment of 3 police posts in . Operational Space

The reporting period also saw deterioration of security During the reporting period, the working environment of situation primarily in Western, Central and Eastern Terai development and humanitarian actors remained challenging, regions due to an indefinite bandh called by MPRF. By the with high incidence of interference being reported in the East third week of the strike, 29 people were reported to have been and Central Terai due to the bandh called by MPRF and other killed (the organizers of the strike claimed higher casualties), groups. From 19 January when MPRF called an indefinite the majority reportedly being killed by the police while bandh to 8 of February when the bandh was suspended for 10 attempting to restore law and order. Several people were also days, development activities could not be undertaken and only injured and were undergoing treatment in different hospitals limited humanitarian activities could be carried due to within the regions as well as in Kathmandu. In the Western imposition of day time curfews and restriction of vehicle Region, tension and clashes between Madhesi activists and movements in the affected districts. The unstable security CPN-Maoist Cadres leading to minor injuries was reported on situation prompted UN and I/NGOs to temporarily relocate 31 January in Lavani of Kapilbastu District, on 7 February in some of their staff from the affected areas to Biratnagar and Sinauli of Rupandehi District and near Parasi in Nawalparasi Kathmandu. On 5 February, a team of UNMIN monitors from District, on 5 and 6 February. Biratnagar who were on an assessment mission to Sindhuli Cantonment site was obstructed by people suspected to be MPRF activists at Janakpur. Though the team managed to

OCHA Nepal Situation Overview, Issue No. 10/Feb 2 negotiate its way out of the situation, the protest leaders at Maoist have directed them to only carry activities related to central level denied responsibility but assured UN after high preparation for Constituent Assembly elections; namely level intervention that UN activities would not be hindered by registration and issuance of citizenship certificates as well as the demonstrators. up dating the voter lists. The CPN-Maoist has directed the returned VDC Secretaries not to conduct any development On 27 January, following reports that parties involved in the activity or allocate their budget. Similar CPN-Maoist directives East and Central Terai protests had blocked ambulances and were also reported in . Many DDCs in Western medical personnel from carrying out their duties, ICRC issued Region were also not collecting tax revenue, reportedly due to a statement calling for restraint and respect of humanitarian CPN-Maoist interference. actors by all parties involved in the protests. Similarly, the UN Due to the MPRF called Bandh, government revenue collection World Food Program (WFP) requested all parties in the Terai was disrupted at the main custom entry points of Rani, to respect humanitarian space and allow free passage of its Karkavitta and Birgunj in the Eastern and Central Regions. vehicles and trucks transporting food aid in the area. A MPRF was also reported to have locked government revenue statement issued by WFP on 31 January stated that the offices in Neplagunj in Mid-Western Region from 4-9 February extensive transport strikes and violence initiated by various as well as government offices in Rangeli of Morang district. groups had severely disrupted its food aid deliveries, threatening the livelihood and health status of hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries. The statement further added that NATURAL DISASTERS security concerns in Saptari and Siraha districts had forced WFP to suspend Food for Work programs. It also said that strike and ensuing violence had hindered WFP from getting Drought report on the food security status of households whose crops had been affected by drought. In its latest up date issued in January, WFP observed that the food security situation in the Mid and Far-Western districts of In response to complaints from humanitarian actors in Morang Kalikot, Dailekh, Jumla, Humla, Bajura and Achham has District that the MPRF activists were blocking operation of deteriorated to warning levels, with more areas currently in a humanitarian and human rights groups, notably vandalism of state of seasonal or chronic food security. Due to extensive ambulances in Duhabi area of Sunsari district as well as Birat summer crop loses, depleted food stocks and limited market Nursing home in Morang district; blocking human rights access, the northern part of is experiencing observers from monitoring activities and compelling WFP livelihood strain, with reported signs of widespread humanitarian convoys to get ‘ daily curfew permits’, OCHA malnutrition. The report further adds that food insecurity facilitated a meeting between leaders of MPRF and key human situation in most of remains chronic, with signs rights groups in Biratnagar. During the meeting, the MPRF of malnutrition in Northern Rowa VDC where 45 households leaders and activists were requested to respect humanitarian have lost their crops and are surviving on begging or and human rights activities. borrowing. WFP further reported that due to drought and other adverse weather conditions in Eastern Terai districts of In Mid-Western Region, CPN-Maoist continued to block Siraha, Saptari and Udaypur, food security situation has development and humanitarian workers from carrying out become acute. In the worst affected district, Saptari, the report their activities without interference. During an interaction adds, a food crisis is looming, with reports of people selling programme for development agencies and political parties held land, livestock and household assets and many vulnerable in Liwang of on 3 February, CPN-Maoist people migrating to India, Biratnagar and Kathmandu in the reportedly asked all I/NGOs and development agencies to hope of finding short term employment. According to the WFP abandon their current mode of operation and put all their report, the overall number of people estimated at risk in areas organizational funds into a separate District Development having deteriorating or acute food security during the basket fund . Other political parties have reportedly been monitoring cycle of November 2006 – January 2007 has critical of this proposed approach. In response to this declined from the previous 900,000 to an estimated 413,368 information, OCHA has organised meetings with organizations people. On the other hand, the number of people experiencing working in Rolpa District and Rapti Zone to better understand seasonal food insecurity has noticeably increased. the CPN-Maoist demands and formulate appropriate response. During the reporting period, an OCHA mission to Pokhara in Meanwhile, in its latest crop and food security assessment was informed that there is generally improving report, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC) working environment for development and other workers in estimates a food grain shortage of almost 190,000 Metric tones Western Region except in Gorka, Nawalparasi, Gulmi, (MT) for the year 2006/2007. It calls for food aid requirements Kapilbastu and Kaski districts. The OCHA mission also of around 40,500 MT to target needy communities in order to reported that in Kaski, a programme to build a VDC health assist them in overcoming the lean period before harvesting the post has been on hold for 4-5 months due to political main winter crops in May/June 2007. The MoAC report interference at the village level where CPN-Maoist stopped the further recommends that WFP should continue to expand its programme after taking the money that was allocated for the emergency food assistance operations to cover the areas where project by the DDC. Similarly, in the same district, a crop production is most affected. Community based organisation (CBO) was dissolved by the CPN-Maoist due to the fact that the CBO refused to allow CPN- WFP will extend its food aid operations in Nepal to Maoist representation in the CBO. In , CPN- communities in three drought-affected districts of the Eastern Maoist reportedly directed a UN funded programme to Terai as well as continuing assistance until the end of June to suspend its operations until CPN-Maoist join the government. drought victims in the Mid and Far-Western Regions. The extended operations will bring the numbers of WFP drought- Reach of State affected beneficiaries to approximately 400,000, double the number reached in the first phase of the operation. During the reporting period, OCHA mission to the Western Due to the recent bandhs in the Central and Eastern Terai region’s Kaski district was informed that whereas all displaced region, WFP has not yet been able to verify the exact number of VDC Secretaries are back to their duty stations, the CPN- people requiring assistance in Saptari, Siraha and Udayapur

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Districts. A food security assessment mission to these areas is scheduled to take place at the end of February. COORDINATION

Population Movement During the reporting period, OCHA completed the field version of the inter-agency ‘Common Appeal for Transition Support’ During the reporting period, as a result of the unrest by MPRF for Nepal for 2007. The appeal, which provides a and other groups which led to increased tensions between comprehensive framework for the humanitarians to ensure Pahadi (People of hill origin) and Madhesi, a number of effective programming and targeting, was developed in close persons were reportedly displaced, primarily as a result of liaison with the government of Nepal. Besides highlighting the destruction of business and residential premises as well as most urgent humanitarian and protection concerns, the appeal looting in Eastern and Central Terai districts. On 2 February, also seeks to draw the attention of donors and policy makers to 84 persons were reportedly displaced from Dhumariya village critical and under-funded emergencies in Nepal like acute west of Gaur in Rautahat district and some of the houses left malnutrition, maternal health and disaster preparedness. The behind by these IDPs were reportedly looted and destroyed. appeal covers 59 projects worth US$ 60 million. (NRCs) provided some limited humanitarian assistance to this group. Similarly, 50 families were reportedly displaced in Katari VDC of Morang district on Based on the outcomes of previous IDP coordination meetings 6 and 7 February. The CDO of Morang informed OCHA that he and subsequent requests from NGOs, OCHA and OHCHR; was in touch with the affected families and would seek UNHCR lead a one day IDP workshop in Gulariya of Bardiya guidance from the government on how to assist the families in district on 5 February with the support of OCHA and OHCHR. and around Biratnagar municipality. OCHA and OHCHR are The Workshop was attended by political parties including CPN- closely monitoring the situation and would call for appropriate Maoist, Police representatives, CDO, the displaced (IDPs) and response of identified needs . Media reports of large scale civil society representatives. Sessions focused on among others movement of people to India and other major towns as a result the IDP Guiding Principles and the draft national IDP policy. of unrest in Eastern and Central Terai could not be verified. The Workshop was aimed at providing the participants with a better understanding of international norms guiding the return In Mid Western region, the BEE Group and IRC completed of internally displaced persons and possibly establishing preparations for facilitated return of 43 IDPs to Humla, level IDP working groups. UNHCR is to continue and Mugu Districts from Banke district leading similar workshops in Surkhet, Dailekh and Dang Districts.

For further information please contact: Vincent Omuga, Humanitarian affairs Officer on 9851072870 Paul Handley, Humanitarian affairs Officer on 9851087520.

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