With its ancient heritage and the Himalayas as a backdrop, landlocked Nepal boasts a distinctive natural and cultural climate. Although rich in scenic splendor, Nepal is one of the world’s poorest countries, struggling to overcome a turbulent political and economic legacy and manage a peaceful transition to stable democracy. Nepal is home to a population of 28.2 million people, with approximately 31 per cent living below the poverty line.

Political History

Nepal has been under the sway of a hereditary monarchy, ruled by members of the Royal Shah and Rana families for most of its known history, and remained largely isolated from the rest of the world. Nepal ratified its first constitution in 1990 and since then has been trying to rule itself democratically with a multi-party parliamentary system.

In 1995, a bitter civil war began in Nepal, between Maoists who were demanding a Communist republic, and the Nepal Army and Monarchy. The war has left more than 12,000 people dead and approximately 100,000 people displaced.

However in 2006 peace talks and ceasefires were made between the King and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). The 2008 election for Nepal’s new constituent assembly was won in a surprising victory by the CPN (M), in which Nepal was declared a republic, calling for the abolition of the historical monarchy.

The scale of the party’s victory is a measure of voters’ disillusionment with the mainstream political parties and of the desire for change in a country where almost one-third of the population continues to live on less than US $ 1 a day.

The Nepali Government struggles to provide adequate health care and education to all its people, especially those in remote regions like Humla. Resources are limited, and the systems used to distribute those resources often struggle to keep up with demand. Health posts and schools in rural areas are often non-functioning or severely under-functioning, unless supported by non-Government organisations. This is partially due to the sheer difficulty in reaching and supplying the many remote communities, and the lack of educated Nepali people, such as teachers and doctors, willing to relocate from urban areas.

More than 50 000 children die in Nepal each year, with malnutrition as the underlying cause for more than 60 per cent of these deaths. Maternal mortality rates are high due to weak health systems with limited access to emergency obstetric care, skilled attendance and the overall poor status of women.

Formal education is a privilege not widely shared by the population. Today, more than 40 per cent of people aged 25 and over have no formal schooling. The literate population aged 15 and over is 63 per cent for men and a mere 28 per cent for women. Ongoing civil conflict has had a significantly impacted education, through school closures and strikes.

Humla

The remote mountain region of Humla is set deep in the snowy North- Western corner of Nepal, sharing a border with Tibet. Life for Humli people is extremely challenging due to the remoteness of the region, ongoing difficulties due to the recent civil war, and a harsh terrain and winter climate. There are no roads into the region, with the capital, Simikot, only accessible by plane or a 21 day walk from the nearest road. Since 1995, many Humli families have been separated as many children have fled the mountains for the relative safety of the city, as a result of the ongoing violence.

Health and education in Humla has suffered under these conditions and as a result of poverty and food shortages. Children, the most innocent of all victims, are needed to work and very few receive an education. Public health and sanitation is largely unknown as water and latrine projects are not yet widely distributed, and with remote health clinics taking days to walk to, immunisation for children against common diseases is difficult.