Between Hope and Fear: Understanding Return and Reintegration of Internally Displaced Persons in Nepal

The armed conflict between Maoist insurgents and government security forces (1996-2006) has resulted in the internal displacement of many of Nepal's citizens, most particularly those from the remote districts, and many still remain displaced. This paper argues that thousands of people have been displaced from rural areas to the urban cities in Nepal and India due to the military activities of both the "Maoist" rebels and the government security forces, and the more general affects of war after the declaration of the state of emergency in 2001. This paper also illustrates that there is lack of consensus as to the definition of Internally Displaced People (IDPs), as to their number (with estimates ranging from 25,000 to 400,000), as to how their needs should be addressed, and who should be responsible to address them. In contrast to the situation for refugees, the degree of knowledge, legislation, and operating frameworks for IDPs is limited in Nepal. This paper argues that the government's national policy on IDPs is biased which only cover the IDPs displaced by Maoists not by the state security forces and failed to incorporate the basic principles of UN Guiding principles on IDPs. This paper also examines pattern of the conflict induced displacement, past efforts and obstacles for their return and how the return and re/integration of IDPs contribute to the peace building. This paper suggests that the most of the returns are spontaneous responses to emergency situations and are largely donor driven. The focus of such schemes is on the return process, and success is measured in terms of timely provision of physical transportation and resettlement of returnees rather the subsequent process of re/integrating them into the society.