 |
United
Nations
|
|
|
Nepal's
Civil War: United Nations
|
  
|
Human
Rights
|
 |
|
Nepal:
UN appeals to all sides in conflict to let through food convoys, medicines
|
February
13, 2006
Relief
Web
 |
|
United
Nations humanitarian agencies have appealed to all parties in the conflict
in Nepal to allow safe passage for food convoys to hundreds of thousands
of people, and the distribution of vitamins and de-worming tablets for
6 million children, as roadblocks, curfews and strikes make reaching remote
areas increasingly difficult. |
At
the same time Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today he "is more than
ever concerned about the deteriorating situation." Through a statement
issued by his spokesman in New York, he reiterated his call for an inclusive
national dialogue of all Nepalese political forces and for King Gyanendra
to take "courageous steps" to find a way avoid further bloodshed.
"It
is quite clear that the Nepalese people want a swift end to the conflict
and instability and the immediate restoration of democracy. The loss of
life and denial of legitimate rights should end without delay," he added,
referring to the King's suspension of parliamentary rule.
"It
is critical for the food to reach the camps to avoid any hunger or suffering
on the part of the people there," UN World Food Programme (WFP) acting
country director Jean-Pierre de Margerie said today of his agency's efforts
to feed thousands of refugees from nearby Bhutan in the south of the Himalayan
kingdom.
"This
convoy is travelling for purely humanitarian reasons and we ask all parties
to assist in its passage," he added, noting that previous dispatches of
food to camps in Jhapa and Morang districts were disrupted by strikes and
blockades as the conflict intensifies between the Government, rebel Maoists
and the political parties protesting against the King's move.
"WFP
is neutral ? we are here to support communities," Mr. de Margerie said
of the agency's plans to send convoys from the south-eastern town of Biratnagar
in the next few days.
At
the same time, WFP provides nutritious food to 300,000 children in schools
and mothers in clinics.
Noting
that both the new school year and the national distribution of Vitamin
A capsules and de-worming tablets are scheduled to start within the next
week, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has urged all parties to respect
the rights of youngsters in these two areas.
Some
48,000 female community health volunteers will mobilize in each of the
wards in all 75 districts for the distribution, one of the largest child-survival
exercises in Nepal.
"Whatever
the issues between adults, one thing that they have agreed on in the past
is that the children of Nepal have the right to live and be protected from
disease," UNICEF Representative Suomi Sakai said. "What the children need
now is for the Female Community Health Volunteers to be able to distribute
the capsules and tablets.
Half
of Nepal's children are malnourished and many also do not have enough Vitamin
A, an essential element in boosting the immune systems. Vitamin A distribution
is estimated to save the lives of some 12,000 children each year and to
prevent some 2,000 each year from going blind.
Every
six months, Vitamin A capsules are distributed to some 3.3 million children
aged between six months and five years. A further 3.1 million children
aged between one and five years are set to receive de-worming capsules
that greatly reduce rates of anaemia.
"Let
all adults agree next week on one thing: put children first," Dr. Sakai
said. "Help the children of Nepal get their Vitamin A capsules and de-worming
tablets, and help them get to school in peace."
UN
High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour today reiterated the concern
already expressed by her representative in Nepal about the excessive use
of force by security forces against demonstrators as well as the extensive
use of arbitrary detention in violation of the right to freedom of peaceful
assembly.
"I
remind the Government of its international obligation to respect the right
of peaceful assembly, and I remind its security forces of their obligation
to use only minimum necessary force even when faced with demonstrators
throwing rocks and other projectiles," she said in a statement.
"Nepal's
Police and Armed Police Force have helped the United Nations uphold the
rule of law in its peace operations. But I must make clear that my commitment
to provide the Department of Peacekeeping Operations with information regarding
individuals implicated in human rights violations extends to them as much
as it does to the Royal Nepalese Army.
|
Links
|
|
 |
|
United
Nations
|
 |
| UN
Integrated Regional Information Networks OCHA |
|
|
|
Nepal
operated by United Nations
|
|
|
|
UN
Nepal Information
|
|
|
