UNICEF Sends Aid to Violence-Torn Nepal

More than 70 metric tons of food aid will be shipped to 5,000 people who have been displaced by the communal violence in western Nepal. According to a press release issued today by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and The United Nations World Food Program (WFP), 31 people have been killed, with dozens more injured or reported missing in the fighting.

The violence began in the western region of Terai on the Indian border following the death of a prominent local leader. The Government of Nepal requested emergency humanitarian food assistance from the WPF for those who have been displaced to the Kapibastu and Dang regions. UNICEF is providing non-food relief in the form of hygiene kits, cooking utensils, mosquito nets, water purification tablets and tarpaulins.

The WPF and UNICEF both acknowledge the seriousness of the situation combined with security threats makes the operation a difficult one. "Working in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Nepal Red Cross Society, we are doing our best to rapidly respond to this humanitarian emergency, but the security situation remains tense. WFP food assistance should begin arriving within the next two days as long as the security situation does not worsen," said Richard Ragan, WFP Country Representative in Nepal.

Nepal has issued a curfew in areas hardest hit by the fighting in an attempt to stop the violence. Hundreds of houses, vehicles, stores and schools have been looted. "UNICEF is extremely concerned about children caught up in this new cycle of violence. All schools in the area remain closed and in some instances schools have been razed to the ground depriving children of their fundamental right to education," said Gillian Mellsop UNICEF Representative for Nepal.

UNICEF is working to reopen schools and provide teaching materials for children in an attempt to restore a sense of normalcy to displaced children.

Many of the displaced are living in army camps, public buildings or open spaces because of the lack of suitable shelter. Many of those forced from their homes are from poor communities and do not have the resources available to cope with the loss of their homes. "WFP has been able to mobilize only enough funds to provide emergency food aid for one month. At this point, it is uncertain what rehabilitation and reintegration support may be needed, but we remain ready to provide additional humanitarian relief if necessary," said Ragan.

Source: UNICEF Press Release