UNHCR urges to allow delivery of humanitarian assistance

Kathmandu, August 17: On Thursday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has urged the local residents around the Goldhap camp to allow smooth delivery of humanitarian assistance to the exiled Bhutanese.

In a press statement the UN agency said, "It is learnt that they have organized a road blockade since August 14 with the aim of pressuring UNHCR to undertake development work in the areas surrounding the refugee camp, which unfortunately goes beyond the mandate and funding possibilities of the UN refugee agency."

"This is unfortunate and disappointing," UNHCR's Representative in Nepal, Abraham Abraham said, adding, "This has seriously affected the delivery of humanitarian assistance and risks the eroding of international protection to the refugees."

"As a result of the blockade, trucks carrying cooking fuel as well as undertaking emergency medical transport have been blocked from reaching the Goldhap camp at an extreme cost of deprivation of refugee livelihood," Abraham added.

"UNHCR has even recently provided an ambulance, trucks to collect garbage, road works and health services to local residents in areas surrounding refugee camps. However, there are limitations to UNHCR's mandate and financial capacity," he said further.

He, however, expressed confidence that the authorities at the Kathmandu and district levels will, together with the local population, resolve the matter. Bhutan News Service