Dhangadi - Nearly 30,000 freed kamaiyas face major problems after two foreign development partners halted their programs recently in the far-western development region because of constant Maoist threats. This suspension has left 187 unemployed and the kamaiyas, who relied on GTZ's food security program, badly affected.

GTZ was forced to take this step after recent rebel attacks on their Dhangadi offices. Similarly, after warnings from the Maoists, Britain's Department for International Development (DfID) also postponed its development programs in the area. Citing security reasons, donor agencies, including GTZ and DfID, issued a public notice on the halting of their development programs in five western districts.

According to the statistics provided by the federation of NGOs in Kailali, donors provided financial assistance worth more than Rs 1 billion by conducting various programs for freed kamaiyas and rural infrastructure development in the region. It also said that GTZ had allocated Rs 33.8 million for development programs for the current fiscal year. Dinesh Bhandari, coordinator of programs for the kamaiyas, said that the Maoists activities hindered development and had a negative impact on financial assistance derived from foreign aid.

Meanwhile, the Maoists reiterated that they would not allow any NGOs to work in the area without their permission. Donor agencies from the US and the UK are barred from running any programs. (Nepalnews.com)