Interview with Mr. Durga Lal Acharya

Julie Ng

RE-zine: How many refugee camps are there in Nepal?

Durga: There are seven refugee camps in Nepal. Six of them are in Jhapa district and the other is in Morang district.

RE-zine: How many refugees are living in the camp you are working in?

Durga: According to the data of the Camp Management Committee of Bhutanese Refugee Camp Sanischare Morang as on January 31st 2004, the total population of the camp is 20,471 in which 10,422 are male and 10,049 are female. The amount of children going to school is 7,796; 3,945 boys and 3,851 girls. This is also the camp where I am working.

RE-zine: What is the approximate number of refugees living in Nepal?

Durga: There are approximately 100,000 people registered as refugees in Nepal. These refugees are all from Bhutan.

RE-zine: How long have you been working for RESPECT?

Durga: I do not remember the exact date when I started working at RESPECT, but I know I have been working here for seven months.

RE-zine: Have things changed over the period of time you have been working there?

Durga: Certainly. The teachers and students of New Horizon Academy (a Bhutanese Refugee School) became aware about the interest in and help offered by the international community. This created a positive impression on the international community. One thing, I would like to state here is that, the students of this school became interested to extend their friendly hand around the world. Another is that, one public library has been enumerated for all the students, teachers, intellectuals and other interested.

RE-zine: Could you please describe the living situation in the camp you are working in?

Durga: We all are aware that living under a plastic roof as a refugee without anything, leads to a miserable life with only a hand to mouth existence that is so called life. All people want to go back to their own country where they used to live their lives. The close settlement sometimes creates small disputes among the refugees. This is mainly due to the level of illiteracy in the camps. Nevertheless, everyone lives in peace and harmony, lending a helping hand in any circumstance. Some agencies have made it possible for many youngsters to go to college by sponsoring them financially. This gives them the opportunity to become educated, while others, the less lucky ones, remain living their lives with their families. Children on the other hand go to primary and secondary school where the refugee teachers teach them. But still, inevitably, all refugee parents worry about the future of their children.

RE-zine: What is the range of incoming refugees you deal with every day?

Durga: I deal with approximately 100 people everyday. This includes children, youths and elderly.

RE-zine: Could you please describe your tasks at the camp?

Durga: Actually, my main task at the camp is to create awareness about the human rights and human solidarity through different means and medias. To give positions a name; I am a social worker, a journalist and a teacher.

RE-zine: What were your motivations to start working in your camp?

Durga: My main motto to start working in my camp is to introduce all my students to the international community, to encourage the students and teachers to have a global view and to aid my back warded community through various sources. Besides, my motto is to establish Computer Learning Centres for the refugee students who have not even seen the computer yet. (Actually, the refugee students studying in grade X have not even seen a figure computer. There is no computer education in the curriculum.) Another motto is to create enough awareness about human solidarity through RESPECT.

RE-zine: What is your view on the global aid system for refugees? Do you think there is enough awareness?

Durga: It is good helping refugees around the world. But there is not enough awareness. The world should help the refugees if it was only possible to stop the increasing numbers of refugees. My view is that refugees should also be treated as human beings.

RE-zine: What are the most prominent needs of the refugees?

Durga: The most prominent and basic needs of the refugees are food, clothing, shelter and education. Besides food, clothing and shelter, education is another basic most prominent need. (Though many INGOs and NGOs are aiding the refugees with the help of implementing partners, I think the quick and reasonable solution is to provide help of any kind necessary to the refugees is the most prominent need.)

RE-zine: What kind of improvements is of urgent need?

Durga: The most urgent need is for education. Quick improvements should be made in order to be able to provide education to all refugee children. Education is every thing in the 21st century. Here, the refugee children are facing so much difficulty in their studies. Providing human rights education for the entire Bhutanese refugee community is also another urgent need.

RE-zine: Could you please tell me something about yourself, for example, your experiences as a refugee?

Durga: Describing myself is very difficult. Actually, I am a student. I am studying outside the camp school because secondary education is the highest level of education available within the camp. I have been faced with many financial problems. Studying outside the camp is very difficult. Till last year, Caritas Nepal-- an implementing partner of UNHCR was helping the refugee education up to grade XII. By this year this has been cut-off. The refugees simply do not have the means to pay for such a costly education. Again there possibilities are limited without an education. One should be higher educated to earn a living. So, it is a complicated situation not only for me but also for all the refugee children.

There are many experiences as a refugee. I am very shy to wait for others to have a mouthful of food, clothes to ware, even a pen to write. Living under a plastic roof depending on others is very sad and a miserable way of spending these valuable days. I pray that one day RESPECT may grow and meet some of the urgent requirements and needs of refugees like me. I also pray that the international community will take these problems seriously and continue to provide aid and help us to live a life as others. I appeal the international community through this e-zine to be serious about the refugee problems that has been increasing day by day. That's all.