The IRC in Nepal

Nepal, a country of 27 million sandwiched between China and India is recovering from a decade-long civil war in which an estimated 13,000 people were killed. In 2008, two years after the armed conflict ended, Nepal held a historic election in which the former insurgents, the Maoists, won a decisive majority. After abolishing the country’s 240-year old monarchy, the Maoist-led government has begun drafting a constitution for the new Federal Democratic Republic. But big obstacles to recovery remain – an estimated 50,000 to 70,000 people are still displaced from their homes, thousands of former child soldiers are held in military cantonment, basic service delivery outside of the capital Kathmandu has not resumed and recent unrest in the country’s southern plains threaten to derail the still fragile peace process.  On top of all this, Nepal is one of the poorest countries in Asia.

How We Help

The International Rescue Committee has been responding to the country’s post-conflict challenges since 2005. Working in 11 of the country’s 75 districts, our programs focus on three main areas – child and youth protection and development, protection and governance and health. The IRC’s long-term goal is to strengthen the ability of Nepali institutions to promote social cohesion, development and meet basic needs of conflict-affected and other vulnerable populations.   More >

Blogs from the IRC's Rosie Hughes in Nepal on Reuters AlertNet

Voices from the Field Blog: The IRC’s Peter Biro reports from Nepal, one of the world’s poorest countries. Despite a 2006 peace accord that ended a decade of civil war, and elections that will help determine the country’s future, life is a daily struggle for most people in the Himalayan nation. Peter's photos