UN Cuts Food Aid for Bhutanese Refugees
The UN WFP cuts food aid for the 90,000 Bhutanese refugees in Nepal.
On Friday, the United Nations announced that it had been forced to cut the food rations that it had been supplying, under the World Food Program, to almost 90,000 Bhutanese refugees in Nepal. It said that it had been compelled to make this decision, due to severe food and funding shortage, caused by the global economic crisis, which has led to a decrease in the aid and investment in poor countries. The UN also said that this is the first time that it has had to make a cut in rations.
The result of this food aid cut, according to the WFP, would be a daily loss of 14 grams of proteins and 700 K cal, per refugee every day. The organization needs $ 4 million, if it wants to continue feeding the refugees till January. The normal aid provided by WFP includes rice, lentils, vegetable oil, salt, sugar and a wheat soy-blend, that provides 2,100 K cal per refugee per day.
Richard Ragan, the representative of WFP in Nepal, said, "We are concerned about the consequences of reduced rations on the refugees. Without their full ration, the most vulnerable refugees will be forced to eat fewer meals or decrease portion sizes, leading to reduced nutritional status." The refugees are not allowed to work or own land in Nepal and are completely dependent on the food aid from the UN.
More than 100,000 Bhutanese of Nepalese ethnicity, fled Bhutan almost 18 years ago, due to human rights violations, after Bhutan started enforcing national conformity. According to this code, minorities were disenfranchised, and the teaching of Nepali in schools, and following dress code and traditions of other ethnicity were disallowed.
There have been multiple rounds of talks between Nepal and Bhutan to resolve this crisis but they have all failed. In November 2007, Nepal started allowing these refugees to opt for resettlement in a third country. Almost 20,000 refugees have made use of this law to go to foreign countries, especially the U.S. At least 80,000 more people, want to do the same but according to estimates, the process may take up to 5 years.
The result of this food aid cut, according to the WFP, would be a daily loss of 14 grams of proteins and 700 K cal, per refugee every day. The organization needs $ 4 million, if it wants to continue feeding the refugees till January. The normal aid provided by WFP includes rice, lentils, vegetable oil, salt, sugar and a wheat soy-blend, that provides 2,100 K cal per refugee per day.
Richard Ragan, the representative of WFP in Nepal, said, "We are concerned about the consequences of reduced rations on the refugees. Without their full ration, the most vulnerable refugees will be forced to eat fewer meals or decrease portion sizes, leading to reduced nutritional status." The refugees are not allowed to work or own land in Nepal and are completely dependent on the food aid from the UN.
More than 100,000 Bhutanese of Nepalese ethnicity, fled Bhutan almost 18 years ago, due to human rights violations, after Bhutan started enforcing national conformity. According to this code, minorities were disenfranchised, and the teaching of Nepali in schools, and following dress code and traditions of other ethnicity were disallowed.
There have been multiple rounds of talks between Nepal and Bhutan to resolve this crisis but they have all failed. In November 2007, Nepal started allowing these refugees to opt for resettlement in a third country. Almost 20,000 refugees have made use of this law to go to foreign countries, especially the U.S. At least 80,000 more people, want to do the same but according to estimates, the process may take up to 5 years.
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