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| Young
female Maoists seeking refuge in a poor farmer's house. The family feels
uncomfortable about their presence - they fear the reaction of the security
forces if they find out that the family has sheltered rebels. |
A
young female Maoist rebel. Since the start of the conflict between Maoist
rebels and Nepali security forces in February 1996, an estimated 12,000
people have been killed. |
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| Many
children in the village of Chisapani were born since the start of the Maoist
rebellion in 1996. They are accustomed to witnessing conflict between armed
rebels and soldiers. Counsellors are concerned that without guidance, these
children will suffer psychologically in the long-term. |
Like
many other women, this young girl in Khotang district, joined the Maoists
to try to change the low status of Nepali women. However reports suggest
that gender discrimination persists even with the Maoist movement. |
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| The
government and Royal Nepalese Army are sceptical about the Maoist-declared
ceasefire, saying the Maoists are buying time for military training and
the purchase of weapons. |
Teachers
have been especially targeted in the conflict, allegedly by both rebels
and the army. Narjit Basnet's hand was chopped off by Maoist rebels. He
still manages to teach the children at a community school. |
Credit
IRIN 2006
Copyright
© UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2006
Integrated
Regional Information Networks (IRIN), part of the UN Office for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
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