Ockenden International has worked in Nepal for the past three years helping Tibetan refugees. Ockenden's programmes have proved very successful and in 2005 we were able to broaden our work and assist displaced Nepali.
One of the poorest countries in the world and at present in a situation of internal turmoil, Nepal has a population that requires a great deal of assistance.
Recent history has seen the spread of the Maoist insurgency, replacement of the government by a direct rule monarchy and ever increasing tension between the official army and the groups who seek to change the style of government. Such instability has inevitably led to the destruction of the economy and standards of living.
In early January 2006, the Maoist rebels ended a four-month cease fire and in so doing raised fears of a return to the insecurity that has made life a struggle for the majority of Nepali people. The initial conflict between the rebels and the monarchy has broadened to include the political parties who no longer support the rule of the king.
The situation is at a precarious point. Since the cease-fire ended, violence in the country has seen a significant rise. Rebel attacks have been reported in a number of provinces with several people either killed or injured. As violence has escalated a number of bomb attacks have also occurred.
In parallel, but not necessarily in co-ordination with the rebels, the opposition parties have become ever more vocal in their criticism of the current regime and have organised a number of protests against the direct rule of the monarchy. Facing criticism and attacks on two different levels, the King has sought to tighten his grip on the country by introducing daily curfews and increasing the presence of police on the streets.
The actions of the king and his opponents are having negative effects on the daily lives of the Nepalese. The ability to earn a living is being reduced in the cities, whilst in the regional areas continued conflict is leading to further displacement.
Recent events suggest that violence in the Himalayan kingdom will continue to escalate. On Saturday 21 January, 2006, the BBC reported a clash between the Maoists rebels and army forces that left a reported 23 dead. Over the same weekend, protests in the capital, Kathmandu, have turned violent.
While the international community calls for calm, NGOs, such as Ockenden, must continue to work with both sides in order to reach the people who are in greatest need of assistance and try to minimise the damaging effects that such conflicts have on the general population.
