Missing persons in Nepal: the right to know - updated list 2013

30-08-2013 Report

Following the 10-years long armed conflict in Nepal, which ended in November 2006, families of 3’198 missing people reported to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) the disappearance of their relatives, often following their alleged arrest or capture by one of the parties to the conflict, or during armed encounters.

As a neutral, independent and impartial humanitarian organization with an international mandate to alleviate the suffering of the victims of armed conflicts and other situations of violence, one of the tasks of the ICRC is to assist all parties to the former conflict in Nepal to fulfill their obligations to clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing persons. The various field assessments conducted by the ICRC and the NRCS on the needs of these families have repeatedly shown that their primary need is to know what happened to their missing loved-ones, even years after the events took place.

What is this Publication?

This publication aims to bring public recognition to the families of missing persons in Nepal as a result of the conflict and to highlight their suffering and their needs. It also constitutes an appeal to the government of Nepal, and all former parties to the conflict to clarify the fate (and when possible the whereabouts) of those who went missing during the conflict and to ensure that all families of missing persons are included in government programmes put in place to support the victims of conflict.

For five consecutive years (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012) the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) published lists of missing persons in Nepal. Since 2010, this list is also available, in English and Nepali, on ICRC's website (www.familylinks.icrc.org).

This 6th edition of the Book of Missing Persons in Nepal was prepared on 31 July 2013 and it contains the names of 1360 persons who were reported missing by the family members, to the ICRC or NRCS and whose fate and/or whereabouts has not been clarified yet. The names are listed by district of residence of the missing person's closest relative.

This edition is divided into two parts:

Part 1 lists the names of 951 persons who were reported as missing to the ICRC by their relatives and whose fate has still not been clarified. To date, their families have not received information about the circumstances that lead to their disappearance and do not know whether their missing relatives are dead or alive.

Part 2 lists the names of 409 missing persons confirmed dead and whose families have been informed accordingly. Their families are still waiting to know where they were buried. And some families also wish for the human remains of their loved ones to be exhumed.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

GENERAL PUBLIC

IS ONE OF YOUR RELATIVES MISSING AS A RESULT OF THE CONFLICT?
If one of your relatives went missing during the conflict and his/her name is not on this list and if you are expecting a response from the authorities, please contact the nearest ICRC office or the district branch of the Nepal Red Cross Society to report their disappearance.

CAN YOU PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT ANYONE ON THIS LIST?
If you have any information on the fate or the whereabouts of anyone whose name appears on the list, please contact the nearest ICRC office or the district branch of the Nepal Red Cross Society.

AUTHORITIES

Ensure all families of missing persons are included in government programmes supporting the victims of the conflict, such as for Interim Relief, Scholarships, Single Women Assistance, Orphan Assistance, Trainings, etc.