KATHMANDU, 23 February - On Thursday night, clashes between refugees and locals outside Sanischare refugee camp in Morang district in eastern Nepal has left one refugee dead and eight wounded - five seriously.
According to local police and camp officials, the fighting broke out after some refugees were intercepted by locals in the surrounding forest which then escalated into a major fighting despite police intervention. The situation that calmed down around midnight, resumed again on Friday morning and is still very tense in the refugee camp as well as in the surrounding local villages.
"We are deeply concerned that a refugee has been killed and others wounded and are seeking further details of this incident," said Mr. Abraham ABRAHAM, UNHCR Representative in Nepal.
"We call upon both sides to immediately stop the growing violence and hope this situation will be resolved at the earliest with understanding on all sides," added Abraham.
UNHCR team tried to reach the camp early this morning, but could not, as the locals have blocked the roads leading to the camp. However, UNHCR is trying all means to resolve the situation with the strong support of the government authorities both at the central and district levels. The injured were brought to AMDA hospital in Damak and five severely injured are transferred to a hospital in Biratnagar.
UNHCR strongly appeals to the refugees to show restraint and requests them to abide by the laws of the country and avoid confrontation with the local community which has been generously hosting the refugees for over 16 years.
"We hope that permanent solutions for their future will be achieved soon, including resettlement to third countries to which the US as well as other resettlement recipient countries have made generous offers," said Abraham.
There are some 106,000 refugees from Bhutan who have been living in seven camps in eastern Nepal since the early 1990s. Disputes between locals and refugees over gathering firewood in the forest are not uncommon. Frustration has been growing amongst the refugees as they have seen no solution to their situation over the last 16 years.