Nepalese Refugees Afraid to Return Home

After the destruction of six villages, including over 350 shops and houses, and the deaths of over 30 people, the thousands of displaced people in Nepal's Terai region along the Indian border are afraid to return home, according to a press release from the United Nation Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN). Many of those displaced say that they have not received adequate reassurance that the area is safe and that they are afraid for their lives.

The leading local civil rights group, the Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC) is worried that the over 6,000 displaced Nepalese will continue to suffer if they are not able to return to their homes. The civilians fled their homes two weeks ago after the September 16 assassination of Moid Khan, a prominent Madhesi leader led to clashes between ethnic Madhesi and Pahade. The government of Nepal claims to have sent more armed police to the region, but refuses to guarantee the displaced civilians' safety if they return to their homes. "The Madhesi as well as the Pahade displaced families are desperate to return home but they want assurances of proper security," said rights worker Madhu Panthi.

The 6000 civilians still living in school buildings, police stations and refugee camps are split among the two ethnic groups, with 2000 Madhesis and over 4000 Pahade civilians afraid to return to their villages the INSEC said. Schools have been closed, but UNICEF has worked to reopen schools in the affected areas and has sent teaching supplies to help restore a sense of normalcy to the lives of displaced children.

Food and medical supplies have also been sent by the UN, along with 10 other local and international aid groups. Over 70 tons of food has been supplied to the displaced people and the UN has also supplied hygiene items, clothes mosquito nets and water purification tablets. More than $200,000 has been pledged by the Home Ministry for emergency aid, but tension still exists in the region, and many aid workers are afraid to voice concerns about the refugees for fear of reprisals by the Maoists' Young Communist League, a radical Madhesi political group. "Even humanitarian workers are affected by the tension and have not been given any guarantees of their safety while carrying out their work," an anonymous aid worker said.

The violence has received little international attention with conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Myanmar dominating the headlines.

Source: UN IRIN Press Release