Unicef: Nepal Blockade Puts 30 Lakh Children At Risk

Image Courtesy: thehindu

As winter is approaching, the ongoing blockade of Nepal’s border with India has led to a severe crisis which may put 3 million children at risk of disease or even death.

The crisis is created due to shortages of medicine, fuel and essential goods. Nepal is going through the crisis for months now due to blockade by Madhesi group, who has issues with Nepal’s new constitution. Madhesi people are minority in Himalayan nation and have strong ties with India.

Nepal govt. has accused Indian officials of actively supporting the blockade but India has denied. Trade with India amounts for 60% of Nepal’s medicines and a large proportion of fuel and essential goods.

A devastating earthquake hit Nepal last year and they are still trying to recover.

Why Madhesi are unhappy?
Acc. to new constitution of Nepal, if a Nepali woman marries a foreign man, their children can’t have Nepali citizenship unless the man takes Nepali citizenship while child will inherently have citizenship even if the Man marries a foreign woman. Above law has become a bone of contention especially with Madhesi group who feel that they have always been discriminated and this will affect them measurably as there are many cross-border marriages in their community.

The Logical Indian community hopes that the blockade ends as soon as possible and a mid-path is taken by the Nepal government so that the citizens don’t suffer.