OCHA: Nepal Situation Report - Kapilvastu and Dang, humanitarian needs update IRIN: Children severely affected by ethnic violence in south September 2007

Nepal Situation Report - Kapilvastu and Dang, humanitarian needs update

Kathmandu, 25 September 2007 (OCHA)

Background

The killing of local leader Moin Khan, President, Democratic Madhesi Mukti Morcha, on 16 September triggered violence between different groups in Kapilvastu, which spread to Dang on 20 September. Indefinite curfews were imposed by the district administration in Kapilvastu and Dang to curb the violence. Figures on the death toll in Kapilvastu range between 21 and 31 killed, with around 25 reported injured. The Ministry of Home Affairs has recorded the destruction of 325 houses and shops in six village development committees, along with 155 vehicles torched and vandalized by mobs since 16 September. The Ministry also reports 20 houses being damaged in Dang district.

< Madhesi civilians have also been victimised following attacks from Pahade groups. The Home Ministry reports that there are around 1,500 individuals displaced in Kapilvastu and 800 individuals displaced in Dang. However, other field sources estimate up to 5,000 individuals, mostly of hill (pahadi) origin, displaced in Kapilvastu and up to 900 displaced, mostly from the Muslim community, in Dang. Unconfirmed reports indicate anywhere between 5,000 - 7,000 individuals fleeing to India. Until the afternoon of 25 September the IDPs had been largely concentrated in ad-hoc camps; either inside area police offices or in local schools.

During the afternoon of 25 September 2007, based on a decision between political parties and security forces, many of the IDPs from Chandrauta camp were taken by truck to a new location closer to their original homes. It seems that many of the IDPs were unhappy with the move, though were given little option; an issue of concern that the UN raised with Home Ministry officials.

Overall the security situation has improved; curfews have been lifted during the daytime in both districts, but gatherings of more than five people are still prohibited. Educational institutions in Kapilvastu were opened from 25 September 2007 - nine days after the riots started. Goodwill rallies are being organized by various civil society groups in Dang.

Needs and Response Food, basic hygiene and temporary shelter materials have been identified as urgent needs for IDPs in Kapilvastu and Dang. IDPs in Kapilvastu are concentrated in eight ad-hoc camps in Sundaridada, Magarghatta and Turentipur in Shivagadhi VDC, Pragatinagar in Pathardeya VDC, Premnanagar in Gaugali VDC, Krishnanagar VDC, and Chandrauta and Khairi in Birpur VDC.

In Dang, OHCHR reports 619 IDPs in the Tulsipur area, under the protection of security forces. According to an interagency assessment comprising UNICEF, UNFPA and the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) in Lamahi, Bhagwanpur and Bhalubang areas in Dang, there are 270 IDPs (71 men, 60 women and 130 children) in Lamahi Ilaaka Police Office. Two large tents separating male and female groups have been installed, but there are no toilet/sanitation facilities. Drinking water supply is inadequate. The district public health office in Kapilvastu has reported that IDPs in the camps are suffering from conjunctivitis, stomach ache, diarrhoea, dizziness, cough and cold.

At a meeting convened by the Home Secretary on 24 September the Ministry formally requested the UN system, ICRC and NRCS to mobilize and coordinate with local government officials in the provision of relief assistance in the two affected districts. The Ministry is also going to instruct the District Administration Offices in both districts to call for coordination meetings with relief agencies at the district level.

Based upon the request by the Home Ministry, WFP has mobilized more than 80 metric tons of food aid for 5,000 IDPs in Kapilvastu and Dang. NRCS will conduct food distribution for WFP.

To address shelter and non-food item (NFI) gaps, UNICEF is delivering 1,000 cooking sets, 1,000 hygiene kits, 1,000 bed nets, 1,000 blankets, 300 tarpaulin sheets (more in the process of being procured), 1,000 water guard bottles, 2,000 oral rehydration sachets, 1,000 buckets and mugs to the affected districts. UNICEF also has school kits available and can be provided if there is need.

Over 3,000 individuals in Kapilvastu district and 600 individuals in Dang district have benefited from immediate relief support, including food and NFI, from ICRC/NRCS and UNICEF. NRCS has dispatched 1,000 tarpaulin sheets to Kapilvastu. The district administration office in Bhairahawa also sent 500 tents to Kapilvastu.

Based upon a joint request from the Chief District Officer and NRCS district chapter of Kapilvastu, UNFPA is in the process of procuring NFI and medicines for IDPs in the district. UNFPA's mobile health team has already visited Chandrauta in Kapilvastu on 24 September, where they provided medical consultation to 60 IDPs, including reproductive health care for pregnant women IDPs.

IRC's health team consisting of two doctors, two auxiliary health workers and medical supplies, is visiting the Lamahi camp in Dang today. The team will then move to IDP sites in Kapilvastu.

The Home Ministry has also allocated NRs. 13 million (US$ 200,000) as emergency cash grant for victims of the riots and has reportedly started distributing cash grants to victims in Kapilvastu from 24 September. It is intending to provide NRs. 10,000 to displaced families whose houses have been completely destroyed and NRs. 5,000 for those whose houses have been partially destroyed. OCHA has established an on-site operations and information centre in Kapilvastu for agencies involved in the response, with local contact information, internet and printing facilities; currently situated in Bhairahawa.

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Children severely affected by ethnic violence in south

KAPILVASTU, 26 September 2007 (IRIN)

Shocked by the brutal killing of her father, seven-year old schoolgirl Nisha Sunwar can barely sleep or eat. "What had my father done? Why did they kill him?" asked the young girl.

Her 40-year-old father Subaram was killed by a group of Madhesi people in Devipur village, Kapilvastu District, southeastern Nepal, after their local leader Mohit Khan was assassinated by unknown persons recently, said local villagers.

Since 16 September violence between the Pahade and Madhesi ethnic communities has led to at least 18 deaths, and over 5,000 displaced people requiring humanitarian assistance, according to local human rights activists.

Child rights workers are concerned about the impact of the violence on children - some of whom witnessed their parents being killed, have been displaced, and are now traumatised, according to Child Workers in Nepal (CWIN), a local non-governmental organisation (NGO).

< Refugees at an IDP camp in Rajhena of Nepalgunj Nearly 6,000 people have been displaced from both Pahade and Madhesi villages, said the Human Rights Treaty Coordination Committee (HRTCC), a joint forum of Nepalese human rights NGOs. Around 4,000 are Pahades and 2,000 Madhesis, according to HRTCC. Local child rights activists say that most are children and need urgent support. "So many children have been suffering. They need a special humanitarian package immediately," said activist Tarak Dhital.

"The local police and government authorities lack records of how many children have been killed and injured and this is a matter of serious concern," said Dhital. According to Kapilvastu's Lumbini hospital, over 40 children have received treatment for injuries. Senior police and government officials said they have instructed their colleagues at the local level to investigate.

"I'm very scared to go back home. Who will help us?" asked 14-year-old Rita Pande. She lay on her bed, hungry, one of hundreds of displaced people living in tents at Chandrauta village.

"My children need help. They need a proper place to stay and proper food. Please help us," said Rahimu Nisha, who has been displaced, like thousands of Madhesi civilians, in Bairani village, near the Indian border.

A group of local child rights workers visited over 10 villages in Kapilvastu District and found the plight of children was very serious, and worse than that of the displaced adults.

"The displaced children have been constantly on the move, with their parents clueless about where to go next. Many will not be able to return," said Dhital.

All schools in Kapilvastu remain closed. Some have been burnt down and completely destroyed, according to child rights workers.

Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), part of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

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Refugees in Nepal: Bacchu Rokaya and her children at an IDP camp in Rajhena of Nepalgunj