• Indigenous peoples in Nepal

    Indigenous peoples in Nepal

    The Nepalese population is comprised by 125 caste and ethnic groups. Nepal has adopted the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. However, the constitution denies the collective rights and aspirations for identity-based federalism of indigenous peoples, and Nepal’s indigenous peoples are thus still facing a number of challenges.
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Nepal: help needed to reach remote indigenous communities affected by earthquake

The deadly 7.6 magnitude earthquake of 25 April 2015, with its epicenter in Barpak in Gorkha district, resulted in massive loss of human life and property in various parts of Nepal.

As of now the death toll is more than 8,000 with many more injured. According to government data, 134,864 houses have been completely destroyed and 92,971 have been partially destroyed. The United Nations estimates that the earthquake has affected approximately 8 million people, of whom 1.4 million have been directly affected. Moreover, there is a risk that the lack of sanitation, clean drinking water and untimely rescue operation may give rise to an epidemic.

Various Nepali and international organisations and individuals have been involved in rescue and relief work. However, even two weeks after the quake, many badly hit villages in the remote areas have received little or no support.

Due to lack of an effective mechanism for coordination and delivery, relief has not reached many villages in Gorkha, Sindhupalchowk, Nuwakot, Dhading, Rasuwa, Kavre, Dolakha, Ramechhap, and Solukhumbu. Affected people in these places are in urgent need of basic shelter, food supplies and medicines, among other things.

In response to this crisis, the Lawyers’ Association for Human Rights of Nepalese Indigenous Peoples (LAHURNIP) has formed a Humanitarian Relief Committee (LHRC) to initiate collection and distribution of relief to the victims in the remote villages. LAHURNIP and its indigenous peoples’ human rights defenders (IPHRDs) have also been involved in this effort in affected districts.

The indigenous nationalities (Adivasi Janajati) of Nepal comprise up to  50% of the total, belonging to 63 indigenous peoples. 

We would therefore like to appeal to interested charity organisations and individuals to extend the best possible support in this initiative.


Contact persons
Shanti Kumari Rai, Coordinator LHRC
Contacts: 
Office: +977 01 4770710
Mobile: +977 9843 386109

Shankar Limbu, Member, LHRC
Contact: 
Office: +977 01 4770710
Mobile: +977 98510 07932 / 9721 532880
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Tags: Climate

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