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Nepal
Casualties and Victim Assistance
Casualties
Casualties in 2009
|
Casualties in 2009 |
70 (2008: 73) |
|
Casualties by outcome |
16 killed; 54 injured (2008: four killed; 69 injured) |
|
Casualties by device type |
3 antipersonnel mines; 3 unknown devices; 32 ERW; 32 IEDs |
The Nepali NGO Informal Service Sector Center (INSEC) recorded 70 civilian mine/explosive remnants of war (ERW) casualties in 2009. The majority of casualties (38 or 54%) were children (30 boys and eight girls). Of the 32 adult casualties, 18 were men and 14 were women.[1] This represented a slight decrease from the 73 new mine/ERW casualties in 2008,[2] and follows the trend in recent years of a “steady and continuous reduction in the number of incidents and casualties in Nepal.”[3] No deminer casualties were reported for 2009.[4] One deminer was injured in 2008.[5]
The total number of casualties in Nepal remained unknown. Landmine Monitor identified 826 casualties from victim-activated devices (221 killed and 605 injured) between 2003 and 2009.[6] From 1999 to 2002, the Nepal Campaign to Ban Landmines (NCBL) reported 1,326 casualties (522 killed and 804 injured).[7] However, due to lack of secondary sources for cross-checking casualties, the figures provided by the NCBL were thought to be only about 50% of the total.[8]
Victim Assistance
The total number of mine/ERW survivors in Nepal is unknown, but at least 605.
Survivor needs
No comprehensive needs assessments were reported for 2009. Handicap International (HI) used INSEC’s casualty surveillance system to assess the needs of survivors, provide assistance, and monitor follow-up.[9] Information provided by INSEC was also used by the UN Mine Action Team (UNMAT) in Nepal to assist strategic and operational planning, including victim assistance.[10] The NCBL continued to collect information on casualties and survivor needs, but faced difficulties in sharing data due to privacy concerns. There remained a lack of centralized information on how many services were provided to survivors overall.[11]
Victim assistance coordination[12]
|
Government coordinating body/ focal point |
Nepal Mine Action Authority Steering Committee and Technical Committee (not operational) |
|
Coordinating mechanism |
MAJWG |
|
Plan |
National Victim Assistance Strategic Framework |
Throughout 2009, victim assistance continued to be coordinated in the meetings of the Mine Action Joint Working Group (MAJWG), an informal working committee that meets every four to six weeks, coordinates mine action activities including victim assistance, and includes UN agencies, NGOs, and the ICRC. The MAJWG is chaired by UNMAT (UNICEF and the UN Mine Action Service). Five meetings were held in 2009.[13] Under the leadership of the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction (MoPR), a five-year National Victim Assistance Strategic Framework was developed in August 2009 by the government and key national and international stakeholders.[14] Implementation was still in the early stages by mid-2010.[15] An evaluation in June 2009 reported that victim assistance coordination had “begun to take root,” but that both coordination and activities appeared to be weak and it recommended that a specific Technical Working Group on Victim Assistance be formed.[16] In 2009 victim assistance stakeholders resolved to launch a Victim Assistance Working Group by November. However, the group was still being created in 2010.[17]
In November 2009, the first meeting of the National Coordination Working Group on the Rights and Benefits of Persons with Disabilities was held. The meeting addressed issues including ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and incorporating disability rights into the constitutional process drafting. Rehabilitation of victims of conflict and persons with disabilities was also a main agenda item.[18]
The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare was responsible for the rehabilitation sector, but it was reported in 2009 that overall there had been “virtually no government involvement” in the sector. However, in February 2009, the Nepalese military organized the first national workshop on rehabilitation, including national and international organizations and UNMAT.[19]
No inclusion of survivors in planning, coordination, or the implementation of victim assistance activities was reported.
Service accessibility and effectiveness
Victim assistance activities in 2009[20]
|
Name of organization |
Type of organization |
Type of activity |
Changes in quality/coverage of service in 2009 |
|
INSEC and HI |
National NGO and international NGO |
Support to five rehabilitation centers and three satellite centers managed by local partners in 2009, which also facilitate and provide victim assistance and advocacy; monitored the emergency evacuation and immediate medical treatment of survivors of victim-activated explosive devices and provided direct financial support |
Increased number of beneficiaries of emergency evacuation and medical/surgical treatment |
|
Himalayan Human Rights Monitors (Him Rights) |
National NGO |
Emergency support including immediate transportation, medical assistance, and psychological support |
No change |
|
NCBL |
National NGO |
Scholarships and vocational training for child survivors; psychological support; advocacy for victim assistance funding; and awareness-raising |
Increased services to beneficiaries and awareness-raising activities |
|
ICRC |
International organization |
Support to the prosthetics department of the Green Pasture Hospital, in Pokhara, including treatment and transport costs for beneficiaries and support to the Yerahity Rehabilitation Center in Kathmandu, managed by the Nepal Army (assisting both military and civilians) |
Began direct support for the Yerahity Rehabilitation Center; started fitting amputees in May 2009, with ICRC support; overall 17% increase in prostheses produced |
In 2009, access to prosthetics services in Nepal increased. However, overall few significant improvements in the quality of services were reported. It was reported that areas of victim assistance other than physical rehabilitation received “little or no attention.”[21]
No significant improvement in accessibility of emergency medical care was reported. Although construction of a trauma center at Bir Hospital in Kathmandu was completed in 2008,[22] it was not operational by the end of 2009.[23] Nine hospitals providing care to weapon-wounded people received ICRC supplies in 2009, a decrease from 19 hospitals in 2008.[24] Covering the expenses of emergency medical care was a challenge for survivors and their families in 2009.[25]
In addition to prosthetics services starting at the Yerahity Rehabilitation Center in 2009, the Nepal Army and the ICRC signed an agreement to ensure that all Nepalese people irrespective of class or political affiliation had equal access to physical rehabilitation at the center.[26] Although the availability of prosthetics and rehabilitation services increased, access to those services more generally was prevented for other reasons. An escalation of general strikes blocked transportation and restricted access to centers. Limited public transport and high fares continued to restrict access to rehabilitation in 2009.[27]
Psychological assistance was almost non-existent.[28] No increases in the availability of services were reported. The NCBL continued to provide some informal counseling together with other activities and supported an informal survivor peer support network, but lacked funds to expand the program or adequately engage survivors.[29]
In 2009, UNICEF, HI, and the MoPR, developed a handbook on victim assistance including information on obtaining assistance, a directory, and mapping of available services. [30]
The Nepali government significantly increased (by some 66%) the level of financial compensation available to survivors in 2009, which was considered a significant improvement.[31]
Nepalese law mandates access to employment, education, transportation, and other state services for persons with disabilities, but there are no laws prohibiting discrimination. In 2009, discrimination against persons with disabilities continued to be reported in healthcare, employment, education, and provision of other state services.[32]
Nepal ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol on 7 May 2010.[33]
[1] Casualty data provided by email from Krishna Prasad Subedi, Head, Human Rights Education Department, INSEC, 1 April 2010.
[2] Casualty data provided by email from Prashannata Wasti, Coordinator, INSEC, 23 June 2009.
[3] Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), “Evaluation of UN Mine Action Team in Nepal,” Geneva, 26 June 2009, p. 3.
[4] Interview with Stephen Robinson, Programme Manager, and Mary Sack, Programme Officer, UNMAT, Kathmandu, 22 February 2010.
[5] Interview with Stephen Robinson, UNMIN, Kathmandu, 19 December 2008.
[6] Casualty figures based on information provided by INSEC, UNICEF, and media reports. However, the data for 2003 and 2004 is only partial, gathered retrospectively by UNICEF from 2005 onwards. From 2006 to the end of 2009 the INSEC database included only civilian casualties.
[7] See Landmine Monitor Report 2003, p. 657; and Landmine Monitor Report 2001, p. 564.
[8] GICHD, “Evaluation of UN Mine Action Team in Nepal,” Geneva, 26 June 2009, p. 3.
[9] Email from Kiran Wagle, Advocacy Project Manager, HI, 12 August 2010; and INSEC, “INSEC Surveillance System on Explosive Devices Incidents Report on Casualties of Victim-Activated Explosions Nepal—January–September 2009,” undated but 2009, pp. 21–22.
[10] GICHD, “Evaluation of UN Mine Action Team in Nepal,” Geneva, 26 June 2009, p. 3.
[11] Interview with Purna Shova Chitrakar, Coordinator, NCBL, in Geneva, 24 June 2010.
[12] UN, “2010 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, November 2009, p. 252; and UN, “Nepal 2010 Transitions Appeal,” p. 50.
[13] UNICEF, “Summary Report on UNICEF Mine Action Activities—2009,” provided by email from Danee Luhar, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF, 19 May 2010; and email from Raju Palanchoke, Deputy Project Coordinator, HI, 13 August 2010.
[14] UNICEF, “Summary Report on UNICEF Mine Action Activities—2009,” provided by email from Danee Luhar, UNICEF, 19 May 2010.
[15] Interview with Purna Shova Chitrakar, NCBL, in Geneva 24 June 2010.
[16] GICHD, “Evaluation of UN Mine Action Team in Nepal,” Geneva, 26 June 2009, p. 27.
[17] Email from Raju Palanchoke, HI, 13 August 2010.
[18] UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “Nepal Situation Overview Issue No. 55,” Kathmandu, 10 December 2009, p. 6.
[19] ICRC, “Physical Rehabilitation Programme: Annual Report 2009,” Geneva, June 2010, p. 43.
[20] Email from Kiran Wagle, HI, 12 August 2010; Him Rights, “Annual Report 2008/2009,” pp.17–18; ICRC, “Physical Rehabilitation Programme: Annual Report 2009,” Geneva, June 2010, p. 43; ICRC, “Annual Report 2009,” Geneva, May 2009, p. 214; and interview with Purna Shova Chitrakar, NCBL, in Geneva, 24 June 2010.
[21] GICHD, “Evaluation of UN Mine Action Team in Nepal,” Geneva, 26 June 2009, p. 27.
[22] Dr. Shishir Lakhey, “Preventable pandemic,” eKantipur, 16 February 2009, www.kantipuronline.com.
[23] Prem Dhakal, “Hundreds die while trauma center still in limbo,” Republica (Kathmandu), 4 February 2010, www.myrepublica.com.
[24] ICRC, “Annual Report 2009,” Geneva, May 2009, p. 214; and see also ICRC, “Annual Report 2008,” Geneva, April 2008, p. 198.
[25] INSEC, “INSEC Surveillance System on Explosive Devices Incidents Report on Casualties of Victim-Activated Explosions Nepal—January–September 2009,” undated but 2009, p. 22; and INSEC, “New Casualties Victim-Activated Explosions—2010 INSEC update January 30,” 18 February 2010, p. 2.
[26] ICRC, “Annual Report 2009,” Geneva, May 2009, p. 214.
[27] ICRC, “Physical Rehabilitation Programme: Annual Report 2009,” Geneva, June 2010, p. 33.
[28] Dariusz Dziewanski, “Terms of Reference for National Strategic Workshop on Victim Assistance,” HI/UNICEF, 10 July 2009, pp. 2–3.
[29] Interview with Purna Shova Chitrakar, NCBL, in Geneva 24 June 2010.
[30] UNICEF, “Summary Report on UNICEF Mine Action Activities—2009,” provided by email from Danee Luhar, UNICEF, 19 May 2010; email from Kiran Wagle, HI, 12 August 2010; and Mine Action Support Group, “Newsletter 19 May—15 September 2009,” p. 10.
[31] Dariusz Dziewanski, “Terms of Reference for National Strategic Workshop on Victim Assistance,” HI/UNICEF, 10 July 2009, pp. 2–3.
[32] United States Department of State, “2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Nepal,” Washington, DC, 11 March 2010.
[33] On 27 December 2009, The Nepali parliament unanimously ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. ICRC, “Physical Rehabilitation Programme: Annual Report 2009,” Geneva, June 2010, p. 43.
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