News update from Nepal, March 18, 2005 News Update from Nepal March 18, 2005 Donors Statement: On March 18, 2005 ten bilateral donors and the United Nations(UN) in Nepal in a joint statement stated: • The UN and bilateral donors are reminding the Security Forces and Communist Party of Nepal/Maoist(CPN/M) that they have a duty to protect civilians caught up in the conflict, that every effort should be made to ensure that civilians have access to essential humanitarian supplies and that their medical emergencies are given free passage at all times. • The UN and bilateral donor agencies in Nepal urge all parties to ensure that movement of supplies and vehicles intended to alleviate the suffering of civilian populations are not restricted. • Common Article III of the Geneva Conventions says that civilians shall in all circumstances be treated humanely and not be subjected to violence towards life and person or other cruel treatment. • Within the past few weeks there have been credible reports of women dying in childbirth because they could not reach medical treatment. In addition there have been incidents throughout Nepal of humanitarian and development activities being restricted, stopped or threatened by parties to the conflict. • The conflict in Nepal has impacted significantly on some of the poorest and most marginalized people in the country. It is the duty of those who are in a position to control civilians to ensure their safety and their rights. There is particular concern for 100,000 Bhutanese refugees in the east of Nepal who are entirely dependent on the regular arrival of relief supplies. • Insecurity, armed activity and CPN/M blockades are pushing Nepal towards the abyss of a humanitarian crisis. Children are especially threatened; supplies of vaccines, Vitamin A capsules, de-worming tablets and essential drugs must reach rural areas over the coming months to prevent wholly avoidable deaths. • The UN and bilateral donors call on all parties to allow free, safe and unhindered access for all groups providing emergency, humanitarian and development assistance to the people at risk, and to provide the necessary protection for aid workers. The statement was jointly issued by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Danish International Development Association(DANIDA), Department for International Development(DFID), European Commission(EU), German Technical Cooperation(GTZ), SNV(the Netherlands), SDC(Swiss Development Cooperation), USAID Nepal, the Embassy of Finland and the Norwegian Embassy. 1