General Situation Update

This week the security was relatively calm. The following reports received this week include:

▪ Syndicate Protest: The Federation of Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) continued its protests in Kathmandu demanding the removal of the syndicate system.

▪ IED explosion in Dailekh: On 28 August, a man of Sidar, Roma VDC-8 was injured when a socket bomb went off at his home

▪ Detainees and Seized Land Remain Unreleased in Pyuthan: In Pyuthan District, despite promises made to free detainees and return seized properties, CPN-M caders reportedly hold captive those people arrested and seized property from during the conflict.

▪ VDC secretary missing for five months: The VDC Secretary of Kailpalmandu VDC in Dadeldhura District is reported missing for the past five months. The family members of the missing VDC Secretary urged the District Administration, Human Rights workers and journalists to help to trace the missing VDC Secretary.

▪ Civilian abduction reported: On 27 August, Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) cadres reportedly abducted a civilian from his house at Laha VDC-7 Jajarkot on charge of arguing with local villagers.

▪ Resettlement Protest in Bajura: On 2 September, locals from Gumlagaun of Aatichaur VDC staged a sit-in protest at the Bajura District Administration Office (DAO), demanding alternative settlement locations due to fears of the high risk for landslides for the entire village.

▪ Petroleum Shortages in MWR/FWR: The shortage of petroleum products continue this week in all Districts in both regions.

Operational Space

▪ VDC secretaries working from District Head Quarter (DHQ) in Rukum: Out of 43 VDC Secretaries, 35 live and work from Musikot, Rukum DHQ, according to local media. Local residents have to walk for days to receive services, including, birth registration, marriage and death certificates from the VDC Secretaries. Some people have to walk for five to seven days and spend NPR 2,000 to reach DHQ. Citing insecurity, 35 VDC Secretaries have not returned to their respective VDCs, most of the VDC Secretaries work from a room provided by the District Development Committee (DDC) in DHQ. However, some VDC Secretaries are also not present in the DHQ. Meanwhile, eight Secretaries of Chaukhabang, Chhiwang, Pipal, Banphikot, Khankh, Chaurajahari, Syanlapakha and Kotjahari VDCs have returned to their respective offices in the village.

▪ INSEC District Representative Threatened: On 26 August, INSEC District Representative (DR) was threatened of life by a group of five persons including central member of Nepal Revolutionary Student Union (NRSU)-student wing of Nepal Workers and Peasants’ Party. The INSEC DR was reportedly called to the office of NWPP at DHQ and threatened for publishing news entitled “Education Halts in 360 Students in the Lack of Books” in inseconline and other media sources. The news stated that carelessness of Binod Book Centre was responsible for the children to lack education materials. The book centre belongs to the District President of NWPP. Cadres of the NRSU accused INSEC DR of defaming its group.

Summary of Natural Hazards

▪ Water Leakage in Tanakpur Dam: On 31 August, local media reported that the community in Mahendranagar Municipality-9 Brahmadev were concerned over water seepage from the Tanakpur dam on the Mahakali River, which was built over 15 years ago. Residents appealed to the concerned authorities to prevent the impact of what they consider an imminent disaster. Ten spurs of the dam
were submerged after water began leaking in five spots. Flooding and erosion have put these spurs in peril. The Hydropower Corporation has opened seven flood gates of the river after the  Kanchanpur District Administration Office informed about the leakage. The Chief District Officer (CDO) of Kanchanpur visited the location and has informed the central government about the leakage.

▪ Landslide Affected Displaced Live in Fear of Reoccurrence: The lives of people of Bhotedanda were destroyed when a landslide hit village on the night of 27 August 2005. Three years on, the displaced people continue to live in temporary camps in Bhotedanda VDC of Achham District and fear that another landslide may occur anytime. Of the 150 displaced families, 40 have left the village, while over 500 people take shelter in the temporary camps. Bhotedanda VDC is also prone to landslides. Bereft of their properties, the displaced cannot afford to move elsewhere. Local media report that the children living in the camps suffer from pneumonia, influenza and other diseases.

▪ One died from house collapse in Nepalgunj: On 29 August, a seven year old child of Ward-3, Bageshwori area, Nepalgunj Municipality was killed and another three injured when a house collapsed due to heavy rainfall.

Food Insecurity

▪  Rolpa Food Insecurity Worsens: People facing food insecurity from different parts of Rolpa District travel to DHQ to procure rice from the Nepal Food Corporation (NFC). The shortage of food grains has gripped the villagers after crop yield decreased this year. The NFC is distributing 10 kg of rice to each resident of Liwang VDC (DHQ) and 30 kg to each person from other parts of the District. As per the existing provision, people could purchase rice based on the recommendation from VDC Secretaries. Taking into account the looming food insecurity, NFC has managed to bring in more rice from Nepalgunj. The food shortage has affected people of Rangsi, Bhawang, Ghartigaon, Oat, Mirul, Kotgaon and Dhabang VDCs of Rolpa District. With VDC Secretaries living in the DHQ, people also need to travel to DHQ to receive the services from VDC secretaries. Some reports say that villagers have gone to India to cope with food insecurity. According to the District Agriculture Development Office (DADO), 168,000 people of the District buy food grains every year.

Health

▪ Measles Campaign in FWR and MWR: The Regional Health Office in the MWR and FWR announced a measles vaccination campaign will be conducted for children between the ages 9 months to 5 years old in the MWR and FWR from 10 September.

▪ Dysentery Claims Six in Bajhang: On 30 August, six people reportedly died of dysentery in Deuralikot VDC, in Bajhang, in less than a week. According to the Far Western Regional Health Directorate, Dipayal, the disease spread in ward no. 4 and 5 of the Deuralikot VDC. It takes two days to reach the village from DHQ and the telephone service there is disrupted. More than 12 people are reportedly receiving treatment in the District Public Health Office, Chainpur and Seti Zonal Hospital, Dhangadhi for dysentry. A medical team led by a medical doctor was sent to the village to control the disease.

▪ Diarrhoea outbreak in Banke: On 1 September, more than 400 people fell sick in Sonbarsa VDC in Banke District after the outbreak of diarrhoea spread due to the contaminated drinking water.

▪ Media role in measles control highlighted: In Nepalgunj On 1 September, the Health Ministry, Division of Child Health and Health Concern Journalists Society organized an Interaction Program on Role of Media Persons National Measles Immunization Campaign in Nepalgunj. Participating journalists stated that the media should use their journalism as a social service.

▪ HIV positive denied medical care in Nepalgunj: This week the national media reported that the Medical Colleges and Nursing homes in Nepalgunj are denied treatment to people living with HIV positive and refer them to public hospitals

Protection

▪ Interaction on Women Rights in Dadeldhura: On 27 August, the Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) organized an interaction programme on women rights at Wadal, Ganeshpur VDC-3 in Dadeldhura District. The interaction programme focused on discrimination against women and women’s rights to property, education, health in accordance to national and international law.

▪ Dalit Woman Prevented from Entering Yard: Caste discrimination continues to occur throughout the MWR/FWR. For example, this week the media reported of a tailor from Betahani, Bardiya District, reportedly sought to borrow tools from a neighbour’s home, however was met with verbal abuse and told not to use the water tap.

▪ Child Marriage Encouraged in Banke: To preserve the culture of the caste, the children of Chidimar are required to marry at an early age. In the Chidimar community of Belaspur, Nepalgunj, child marriage prevails even though children have no desire to marry. Children are reportedly compelled due to social and cultural norms. About five hundred Chidamar families live in Nepalgunj.

 
Education

▪ Schools Close in Banke: Since 31 August, private boarding schools of Banke remain closed in protest for the fulfilment of their various demands, which include job security and increment of financial benefits, according to local media.

▪ Kalikot schools damaged by landslides: The frequent landslides in August reportedly damaged six schools in Mugraha, Khina, Thirpu, Raku, Dhaulagoha VDCs and one in Manma DHQ.