MAOISTS BLOCK FOOD ACCESS TO BHUTANESE REFUGEE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000965 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/INS, PRM E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2016 TAGS: PREF PTER NP SUBJECT: MAOISTS BLOCK FOOD ACCESS TO BHUTANESE REFUGEE CAMPS REF: KATHMANDU 944 Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). Maoist Roadblocks Prevent Food From Reaching Camps -------------- -------------- ¶1. (C) Maoist roadblocks on the highways in eastern Morang District, part of the Maoist "support of the seven-party alliance movement" (reftel),have prevented the World Food Program (WFP) from resupplying Bhutanese refugee camps with foodstuffs. Over 100,000 Bhutanese refugees in seven camps in Morang and Jhapa Districts depend on WFP for food. The April 13 Himalayan Times reported that Maoist disruption in transportation services has created a shortage of foodgrains in the camps, and quoted Kishor Rai, representative of the Bhutanese Human Rights Organization, as saying the WFP had not distributed any rice or vegetables to Beldangi and Sanischare camps for the past week. Rai explained that the WFP usually provided 400 grams of rice to each refugee daily, and noted that vegetables were also in short supply. "As transportation has ground to a halt, the supply of food grains has been affected. Stocks have run out," the WFP said in a press statement on April 12. The WFP in Kathmandu told Emboff that the last shipment of food from Biratnagar to the camps was on April 8 and confirmed the current food crisis. World Food Program Appeals to Maoists -------------- ¶2. (C) A WFP representative told Emboff that trucks with food for the camps had been waiting in Biratnagar, Morang District since April 9, but due to Maoist roadblocks, the WFP could not reach the camps. She explained that the WFP had been in contact with local Maoists and had proposed running a convoy of trucks, led by UN vehicles, to transport the food to the camps. However, the Maoists noted that the roads were blocked by felled trees and large boulders, as well as explosive devices, so the Maoists could not allow the WFP trucks through. When WFP stressed that the Maoist leadership had promised not to interfere with UN activities, the local Maoists told WFP they would have to "consult" with their senior leaders. In order to pressure the Maoists to act, the WFP decided to issue a press statement on April 12. The WFP also decided to take the supply trucks to the camps by going south from Biratnagar, into India, and back west into Nepal via Kakarbhitta, Jhapa District. WFP hoped to have the trucks depart Biratnagar on April 13, and reach six of the seven camps by April 15. However, the Maoists were blocking roads to one of the camps, and would need to allow WFP to pass in order for the food to reach the seventh camp. Tibetan Reception Center Has Plenty of Supplies -------------- --- ¶3. (C) The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported no problems with food supplies at the Tibetan Reception Center in Kathmandu. The Center was currently housing 400 people who had fled Tibet and were waiting at the Center to transit to India. No one had been able to transit to India since the beginning of the general strike on April 6 as no public buses were running. However, many people were poised to take buses to India once commercial transportation resumed. Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) The worsening security situation surrounding the Bhutanese refugee camps highlights the urgent need to address getting people out of the camps permanently. MORIARTY