Refugee children exhibit their grievances

During the decade-long involvement in an organised forum, the Bhutanese refugee children's art works looked matured in tell their stories of eviction, though many of them were born and grown up in Nepali soil.

The three-day exhibition that began at Nepal Art Council Galley in the capital on Monday, where these stateless children display their works amply portray the sentiments they still attach with that country where their parent belonged.

Paintings, films, photographs, audio cassettes, CDs, handicrafts and news bulletins, all made by these children who grew in bamboo huts in the camps of Jhapa and Morang districts largely reject the idea of third-country settlement of refugee that US and other countries are offering them.

According to Indra Timsina, the coordinator of the forum for all seven refugee camps, many of the creations placed at the exhibitions have already found their customers, adding little contribution to continue with their efforts for survival.

In early 1990s, Bhutanese citizens of Nepali origin - known as Lhotsampas in Bhutan - have been forced out of their homes by the Bhutanese government after a law was enforced stripping them of citizenship and civil rights due to their ancestry. Around half of this population registered at the UNHCR are children.

The children programme that began with the initiative of Save the Children (UK) in 1997 to help refugee children raise their concerns of protection and welfare, now is being supported by UNHCR, Lutheran World Federation and London based NGO Photo Voice (UK).

The children tell their stories of hardships in the camps. Some 10 percent children have already left their studies, though they are provided free education by Caritas Nepal, to work in local labour markets so that they could support their parents with some earning. Children say dropout rate in schools inside the camps could rise in the coming days because the facilities provided by the agencies have been minimised. nepalnews.com ia Oct 30 07