UN rep asks India to control groups fomenting trouble in Nepal

A senior United Nations official on Monday requested India to check the groups having links in India that are making life difficult for people in the Terai areas of Nepal.

United Nations Resident Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nepal, Matthew Kahane said in many districts of Nepal people are chronically facing food shortage and asked India to ensure a regular supply of food and other crucial supplies.

“There is concern on the activities of certain groups that are making things difficult for people in the Terai area. Some of these groups may have some kind of links in North India, so it would be enormously helpful if Indian authorities are able to keep these people under control,” Indian official news agency, Press Trust of India, quoted him as saying.

Kahane further said although much of the attention on Nepal has been on the ongoing political "evolution", on the humanitarian side things are continuing to be increasingly "vulnerable".

"On the humanitarian side what we are seeing is increasing vulnerabilities and increasing attempts to making people being vulnerable. In something like 40 out of 70 districts of Nepal, we reckon that people are chronically food insecure," he said.

Political disruption makes the situation even more difficult in the landlocked country, Kahane said, adding that since Nepal is dependent on India for food and other crucial supplies, the first priority for New Delhi should be to ensure a regular supply of these goods. nepalnews.com ag Jan 28 08