Attachments
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (DCHA)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
BACKGROUND
- The decade-long civil conflict in Nepal between the Government of Nepal (GON) and the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) caused an estimated 13,000 deaths, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Humanitarian assistance organizations report that the conflict displaced an estimated 200,000 people.
- OCHA estimates that as many as 130,000 refugees remain in Nepal, including approximately 107,000 refugees from Bhutan.
- In early 2006, the GON and the CPN-M began peace discussions, signing a Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in November. Both parties also agreed on the completion of military quarters, or cantonments, for the Maoists in selected areas. In January 2007, the CPN-M and the Seven Party Alliance (SPA), a coalition of democratic political parties, agreed to an interim constitution. On April 1, the CPN-M and the SPA formed an interim government.
- On April 13, 2007, the Nepali Election Commission reported insufficient time to adequately prepare for constituent assembly elections in June, before the onset of monsoon rains. According to international media sources, on May 31 the SPA and the CPN-M agreed to reschedule elections for late November or early December.
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NUMBERS AT A GLANCE(1)
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SOURCE
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| Total deaths caused by conflict since 1996 |
13,000
| OCHA - February 2007 |
| Total IDPs(2) displaced by conflict since 1996 |
200,000
| IDMC(3) - October 2006 |
| Refugees in Nepal |
130,000
| OCHA - February 2007 |
HUMANITARIAN FUNDING PROVIDED TO DATE (FY 2006 AND FY 2007)
USAID/OFDA Assistance to Nepal: $5,313,311
USAID/FFP(4) Assistance to Nepal: $5,212,600
USAID/OTI(5) Assistance to Nepal: $3,681,000
State/PRM(6) Assistance to Nepal: $1,200,000
Total USAID and State Humanitarian Assistance to Nepal: $15,406,911
CURRENT SITUATION
In early 2007, groups of Madhesis, who consider themselves to be the indigenous people of the southern plains or Terai region, carried out protests and blocked roads to voice discontent with the interim constitution and alleged longstanding discrimination by Pahadis, or those of hill origin. OCHA reported continuing violence in the Terai region between Madhesi groups, Maoist supporters and other groups. The security situation and intimidation by Madhesi groups also impeded the delivery of services by both humanitarian organizations and the GON.
Map: USG Humanitarian Assistance to Nepal in FY 2007 and FY 2006 (as of 6 Jun 2007)
Notes:
(1) These numbers are estimates provided by the following organizations
(2) Internally displaced persons
(3) Internal Displacement Monitoring Center of the Norwegian Refugee Council
(4) USAID's Office of Food for Peace
(5) USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives
(6) U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration