On behalf of the more than hundred thousand high school and college students gathered peacefully today in various parts of Kathmandu Valley, we would like to draw the attention of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to the humanitarian crisis facing Nepal.
This humanitarian crisis is the result of the blockade against our country by India. The blockade has resulted in the loss of educational opportunities for millions of students like us in all parts – mountain, hill and plain. This humanitarian crisis adds to the difficulties already faced by schools and students as a result of the earthquakes of April-May 2015.
We believe we speak on behalf of young Nepalis everywhere when we ask you to ensure that this blockade ends. We students of Nepal must be allowed to get schooling and live like students everywhere else. This is why our slogan today has been ‘baanchna ra padhna deu’ – ‘give us a chance to live and receive education’.
Thank you!
Signed by:
Grishma Adhikari, Kaushal Adhikari, Pabitra Khatri, Kerina Maharjan, Prakash Neupane, Aaakash Pant, Alaukik N. Pant, Manish Sapkota, Shardul Sapkota and Rajshree Upadhyay.
(Submitted to UN Resident Coordinator for Nepal, Jamie McGoldrick, by Nepali students)