UN Resident Representative complains about 'breach' of BOG

Complaining about the continued breach of Basic Operating Guidelines (BOG), UNDP Resident Representative Matthew Kahane has said that these "breaches" have held back critical development efforts in Nepal.

Speaking at a launching ceremony of Nepal's Millennium Development Goals Needs Assessment Report, Kahane said, "Today in Nepal critical development efforts, intended to deliver services to the country's most vulnerable groups are being held back by an increase in breaches of the BOGs."

Kahane added that these posed "great concern to the UN." He said, "This climate of uncertainty must be addressed if the nation is to secure greater confidence within the international community, and achieve the MDGs within nine years."

Adopted in 2004, the BOGs are the main mechanism the UN and donors have for protecting operating space. They are based on established and accepted humanitarian principles and international legal standards. They protect the interest of the conflict-affected population and the safety and security of UN, donor and NGO staff.

According to UNDP's press release, "81% of total BOGs violations reported during the past 12 months (October 2005 to September 2005) were reported between April and September 2006." According to it, challenges have included "blocks and threats to staff by both CPN (Maoists) and security forces as well as demands for registration and donations from CPN(M)." nepalnews.com sd Oct 17 06