Full Coverage: Nepal

28.06.2006 KATHMANDU, Jun 28 (IPS) - At least tens of thousands of Nepalis have fled their homes during a Maoist uprising and now that peace has come, many are pondering a return. But it is not easy: no government programmes pave their way, many of their homes need repairs while long-neglected fields require work before planting, and locals must first assuage Maoist gatekeepers.

28.06.2006 At least tens of thousands of Nepalese led their homes during the Maoist uprising and, now that peace has come, many are facing a difficult return due to a lack of government programs, long-neglected fields and homes, and local Maoist gatekeepers.

28.06.2006 Activists have criticised the Nepali government and army for continuing to billet soldiers and security force personnel in school premises around the country, despite the current ceasefire.
+ Maoist leaders meet Indian Ambassador

26.06.2006 Naturopathy is a holistic approach to treatment of diseases as an alternative therapy. It draws upon natural remedies like sunlight, air and water with support from correct diet and massage.Naturopaths believe that the body has self-healing powers and that it can repair itself and recover from illnesses in a healthy environment.

23.06.2006 The ill-effects of the Nepal conflict have been experienced by almost all sectors of rural life, including the health sector, with poor health delivery mechanisms prevailing in the rural areas.In this context, several health camps, necessary medication and treatment support programmes and formation of health management committees are being implemented by Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN) under its project in Nepal in coordination with other concerned partners.

22.06.2006 Eight people with disabilities have an opportunity to voice their issues using the Community Multimedia Centre (CMC) in Nepal after a recent training workshop on audio production and new technologies. Of the eight participants, five were visually impaired and the remaining three were physically challenged. Read more about this innovative project by UNESCO.

20.06.2006 More than two-dozen women activists were detained in Kathmandu after staging a sit-in protest to demand for one-third representation in the interim government.

19.06.2006 The Women Associations' Joint Struggle Committee (WAJSC) on Saturday demanded that the government include women in the interim constitution drafting committee formed on Friday.

17.06.2006 The Nepalese government and Maoist rebels agree to form a six-member committee led by former Supreme Court judge to draft an interim constitution.
* Highlights of the 8-point agreement
* PM, Maoist chief sit together

16.06.2006 As the Nepalese government and Maoists held talks to find a peaceful end to the Maoist insurgency, a report estimated that 13,190 people had been killed in the decade-long insurgency.

15.06.2006 A decade-old crusade against tobacco by a lawyer has finally borne fruit with NepalÂ’s apex court banning smoking in public places.

14.06.2006 Public health is an integral component of socio-economic development. High maternal and infant mortality, emerging infectious diseases and limited access to primary health care services in the developing countries is a matter of serious concern. In the changing context of globalisation and modernisation, population health has been facing several challenges in recent years.

13.06.2006 The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) through Mountain Environment and Natural Resources Information System (MENRIS), also recognised as UNEP GRID-Kathmandu, is promoting the use of geospatial science, technology and applications for sustainable mountain development in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region.

12.06.2006 With Nepal at a crossroads for peace, women have a vital role to play in rebuilding the country and activist Lily Thapa is working hard to secure women a role in the peace process, the new government, and equal rights under the law.

12.06.2006 India has said it will give Nepal 10 billion rupees ($218m, £118m) in aid, most of it to be spent on development. The funds will be used to help build or upgrade roads, railways, an oil pipeline and an airport, a joint Indo-Nepalese statement said.

09.06.2006 Nepalese families in remote mountainous areas of the country are now using simple, inexpensive and environmentally friendly gravity ropeways to get their crops to market. Find out more.

07.06.2006

06.06.2006 A meeting of the House of Representatives declared Nepal an untouchability-and-discrimination-free country. The historic declaration is considered a breakthrough in creating an equitable society and bringing Dalits and other marginalized groups into the mainstream.

06.06.2006 The Dutch lottery and the UNHCR are helping refugees in Nepal to find ways to fight climate change. Building solar ovens will help reduce deforestation, carbon emissions and the use of costly kerosene.
*Smoke - the killer in the kitchen

05.06.2006 An awareness programme against the tobacco use spanning ten days has been organised by Nepal Cancer Relief Society (NCRS)