Background

Some 100,000 refugees and asylum seekers from southern Bhutan are accommodated in seven camps in two of the most densely populated districts of eastern Nepal. The refugees are of Nepalese origin having Bhutanese citizenship and/or long term residence in Bhutan. The influx of asylum seekers began arriving in Nepal since the beginning of 1991, peaked in 1992, then almost stopped from 1993 onwards. The majority of the refugees are residing in the camps, while the remainders are believed to have settled elsewhere in Nepal.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is providing humanitarian assistance to the refugees. The provision of adequate systematic baseline data on the socio-economic and natural resource condition of the refugee camps helps improve management effectiveness. Considering this, United Nations Environment Programme, Environment Assessment Programme for Asia and the Pacific (UNEP/EAP.AP) and the Asian Institute of Technology Alumni Association (AITAA)- Nepal Chapter are jointly implementing the above mentioned project in collaboration with UNHCR.

Goals/Objectives

The broad goal of the project as outlined in the project proposal is:

• To assess the environmental degradation in and around the refugee camps before and after the arrival of refugees using remote sensing and GIS technology; and
• To develop a GIS database focusing on particular components such as: deforestation, flood, road rehabilitation and features of interest to UNHCR.

Major activities of the project include satellite data acquisition, ground survey, GPS survey, data analysis and training.

Deliverables

The following outputs will be produced during the project period.
 
 

• study of environmental degradation in and around the refugee camps using multi-temporal satellite data covering just before and after the arrival of refugees as well as in 1998;
• Preparation of GIS database for environmental degradation in and around the refugee camp sites in all 7 locations;
• Training to UNHCR staff on GIS, GIS database and GPS technology; and
• Preparation of GIS database for camp sites.

The Regional Director of United Nations Environment Programme, Environment Assessment Programme for Asia and the Pacific will coordinate the project. The project will be implemented together with Asian Institute of Technology Alumni Association (AITAA)- Nepal Chapter and UNHCR. A strong partnership will be established together with local governmental and non-governmental agencies in both the districts.

Time Frame

The project was implemented during the period of September 1997 to February 1998.

Geographic Scope

The project covers seven refugee campsites in Jhapa and Morang districts of eastern, Nepal.

For Further Information:
 

Mr. Surendra Shrestha Regional Coordinator	Tin Aung Moe
UNEP Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific Asian Institute of Technology P.O. Box 4, Klongluang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand Tel: (66-2) 524-6235, Fax: (66-2) 516-2125 Email: info@rrcap.unep.org , Home Page: www.rrcap.unep.org