Nepal heading to humanitarian crisis: Thapa to Indian envoy

Kathmandu: Nepal is heading towards a humanitarian crisis due to the ongoing blockade, Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa told Indian ambassador to Nepal on Monday as he sought India's help in easing the supplies of essentials like LPG and fuel in the landlocked country.

The Indian envoy, Ranjit Rae, called on Thapa, who also holds the post of Nepal's Foreign Minister, at his office where they discussed matters relating to India's "unofficial" blockade and its impact on Nepal, still recovering from the April 25 devastating earthquake, according to Foreign Ministry sources.

Thapa drew the attention of the Indian envoy towards the humanitarian crisis created in Nepal by the blockade of key border trade points with India by Indian-origin Madhesis of Terai who are against provisions of the new Constitution that divide their homeland among other demands, they said.

Thapa urged the Indian envoy to help ease the supply of essentials including petroleum products and LPG as the country is heading towards a humanitarian crisis, the sources said.

The meeting with Indian envoy was part of Thapa's bid to engage with foreign envoys to tackle the humanitarian crisis facing the country with the intensification of protests by the agitating Madhesi parties that has spiralled fresh violence.

Thapa is considering to discuss the issue relating to humanitarian crisis which Nepal is already facing with foreign envoys, in the wake of the blockade which Nepal accuses India to have imposed, Foreign Ministry sources said.

The Deputy Prime Minister will also hold discussions with Nepal's former Foreign Ministers on the issue of dealing with the humanitarian crisis.

In a separate development, Mohan Baidhya-led CPN-Maoist submitted a protest letter at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu against the blockade.

The letter is addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urges to immediately end all the Indian 'interference' in Nepal.