On 8^th June, 2023; Nepal and Qatar signed a pact about the protection of rights of the migrant workers. Whereas, Nepal and United Arab Emirates also renewed the labour agreement for the next four years on 14^th June, 2023. This year monsoon has finally arrived since 15^th June, 2023 reliving the people from the heat waves. However, with the arrival of monsoon, the chances of water and vector borne disease has gradually increased.

Time line of Major Events

 

Date	Events
8 June	National Human Rights Commission of Nepal and Qatar signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on protecting the rights of migrant workers
8 June	Gokarneshwar Municipality of the Kathmandu valley confirmed the outbreak of measles
14 June	United Arab Emirates and Nepal renewed bilateral labour agreement for next four years
15 June	Meteorological Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology declared arrival of the monsoon
16 June	Ministry of Health and Population confirmed first case of monkey pox infection
19 June	Prime Minister visited landslide affected area in Sankhuwasabha of the Koshi Province.
28 June	Epidemiology and Disease control confirmed the increase of Dengue cases

 

Surge in the demand for Labour Migration

On 14^th June, 2023; Nepal and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) renewed their bilateral labour agreement where UAE requested Nepal to resume sending domestic helpers. Likewise, on 1^st June, 2023; South Korea opened employment opportunities for Nepali migrant workers by announcing vacancy in the shipbuilding. Similarly, Nepal itself is also planning to send migrant workers to Iraq for the reconstruction works. In the last few years, the trend of Nepali people travelling to the foreign land in search for the job opportunities has tremendously increased. According to the report of Nepal Rastra Bank’s macroeconomic, Nepal government has permitted more than 660,000 Nepalis to work abroad in the current fiscal year.
 
For a country depending highly upon its remittances, the hike in the demand for the migrant workers might be a good thing. But, on the other hand sending its population to the foreign land means the lack of active human resources for itself. The interest of the youth towards the foreign land also indicates country’s inability to provide good opportunities and better facilities to its population. Hence, Nepal government should focus to protect its human resources by opening up the good opportunities in their own country.

On average, Nepali migrant workers spends more than lakhs of rupees to travel to the foreign land for the job opportunities. Despite that, migrant workers have reported time and again about low wages, discrimination and exploitations. Hence, for the protection of migrant worker’s right in Qatar, Nepal on 8^th June, 2023 has signed pact. Nepal government needs to put more efforts in reviewing workers conditions, renewing agreements and fostering better relationships with countries where Nepalese migrants are working. 

Monsoon begins the wave of landslide and diseases

According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, the maximum temperature in Terai districts crossed over 40 degree Celsius in the early June. The increase in the heat waves made Nepal government close schools and colleges demanding the movement of people only when necessary. The study done by Department of Hydrology and Meteorology in 2017 suggested that average annual maximum temperature of Nepal has increased by 0.056 degree Celsius. The heatwave brought with it shortage of water as sources of water had dried and hospitals and health care centers to be occupied with the patients affected by it. However, on 15^th June, 2023; Meteorological Forecasting Division finally announced the arrival of the monsoon into Nepal as rainfall could be seen in almost every parts of the country.

Along with the arrival of monsoon, various places have started to face the landslide. Recently, Sankhuwasabha got affected by landslide and to understand the condition of the place, Prime Minister of Nepal paid a visit to the affected areas. With the arrival of monsoon, people suffering from the water borne and vector borne diseases has also increased in the country. Snake bites, dengue, food poisoning are some of the major diseases witnessing an increment with the beginning of the monsoon season. Every year with the arrival of monsoon, disasters and diseases take hundreds of lives and damage properties. Yet, the government doesn’t seem to be prepared with any strategy or plan to tackle these calamities.
 

Outbreaks of diseases questions country’s

Immunization Programme 

On 8^th June, 2023; Gokarneshwar Municipality of the Kathmandu valley confirmed the outbreak of measles as 4 children was found to be infected with it. Nepal had committed to eliminate measles from the country by 2019. As, officials confirmed 62 more people having the symptoms of measles, Ministry of Health and Population has shifted the elimination deadline to the year 2026. The symptoms of measles includes, high fever, runny nose, and rashes on the face, upper neck and other parts of the body. Measles are transmitted through fluids from the nose, mouth or throat of an infected person.

The government of Nepal has already started immunization programme for the measles as it could transfer to anyone who has not been vaccinated. Similarly, around 14,000 Kathmandu residents has been reported skipping the cholera vaccine. As monsoon has begun in the country, the water and vector borne diseases is on rise. People more prone to be infected if they are not vaccinated.

Despite of organizing various immunization programmes, huge number of population are not fully immunized. In order to address these misses of the vaccination program, all the three tiers of the government should initiate micro planning from the ground level. Hiring volunteers, conducting surveys and increasing awareness programmes are some ways the government can still get more people to vaccinate.