Nearly six months after nationwide protests forced the king to end 14 months of absolute rule and the Maoists rebels called a ceasefire, only a few thousand people have reportedly returned to their homes, the majority of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) preferring to wait for better security guarantees and more assistance to make the journey home. Although no reliable figures exist, it is estimated that up to 200,000 people have been internally displaced in Nepal by ten years of war, which has claimed more than 13,000 lives and affected all districts of the country. Caught between two evils, abuses by the Maoists and repression by the security forces, most people have also fled the general deterioration of the socio-economic conditions in the countryside and sought refuge in district headquarters or in the main urban centres. The war has also thrown hundreds of thousands of people onto the road to India - a traditional migration route for Nepalese.
A 12-point agreement signed in November 2005 between the CPN-Maoist and the Seven Party Alliance had already encouraged some timid return movements of IDPs to their homes. The ending of the armed conflict and repeated commitments by the rebels to respect the rights of IDPs paved the way for more returns, in particular in the eastern and mid-western regions. However, continued human rights abuses by the Maoists, including killings, abductions and torture, have so far prevented larger-scale return movements. These are also hampered by the absence of government representatives at the village level, these having been displaced themselves, as well as by the lack of a government return plan.
The government issued a national IDP Policy in March 2006, but as with previous IDP plans, the latest failed to comply with international standards as it only recognised as IDPs those displaced by the actions of Maoists. Although initially slow to move from the development into the humanitarian gear, the response of the international community is now taking shape, spearheaded by UNHCR and OHCHR as lead agencies for IDP protection. While peace talks are now ongoing and many IDPs are on the verge of returning, both the government and the Maoists should do more to live up to their commitment to provide assistance to all categories of displaced and ensure that their return can take place in a safe and sustainable manner.
Full Overview (html / pdf)
Full Internal Displacement Profile
IDMC's Nepal country page
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
