A woman and her child, refugees from the conflict, in a precinct of Khalanga, county town of the district of Rukum, cradle for – along with Rolpa – the Maoist rebellion. This community is one of the three bastions still largely detained and protected by the governmental forces. The rest of the district’s territory is controlled by Maoist. Across a total population of 5000 people, the town would number close to a thousand soldiers and several hundred refugees, issued from villages, having run away from the guerrilla and the men of the party.
The reliable data regarding the displaced are rare, as many of these people have not been identified. Nevertheless, it is estimated that since the beginning of the Maoist insurrection, in February 1996, 100.000 to 200.000 people could have been displaced inside Nepal, a majority comprising rural communities. In addition to these, some estimations announce up to 2 million workers – almost exclusively men – to have migrated to foreign countries, especially towards India and countries of the Persian Gulf.
November - December 2005 - Rukum - Nepal.
© Pierre-Yves GINET