The ICRC will officially hand over the completed work to Bhola Prasad Shivakoti, director-general of prison management, and Pradeeo Jyoti Shrestha, Nawalparasi district jailor, in Nawalparasi on 17 December.

In Kathmandu Central Jail, upgrades to the water network, including the installation of pumps and tanks, have greatly improved access to water for detainees. The ICRC has also provided training to ensure proper maintenance.

In Nawalparasi District Jail, the water storage capacity has been increased and improvements have been made to kitchen and dining facilities. The ICRC carried out the work in cooperation with the Urban Development and Building Construction Division Office.

"The authorities' active participation in this project demonstrates their concern for detainee living conditions and their determination to take action," said Mary Werntz, head of the ICRC delegation in Kathmandu. "Greater government involvement is essential since it is only the authorities who can ensure humane conditions of detention for all inmates in Nepal." She added that the ICRC will gradually scale back its assistance to detention facilities in 2009.

In 2008 the ICRC completed six renovation projects in detention facilities across Nepal. It completed or is working on 40 projects in the country – 24 of them in places of detention – designed to ensure that people have access to clean water and live in a healthy environment. Apart from its activities in places of detention, the ICRC also carries out water, sanitation and infrastructure projects in Nepal for conflict-affected communities and for medical facilities particularly affected by situations of violence.