UN voices solidarity in Nepal crisis, hails first woman prime minister

By Anjali Sharma

UNITED NATIONS – UN agencies in Nepal on Friday welcomed the appointment of former judge Sushila Karki as interim prime minister as the country recover from a deadly crackdown on youth-led protests that left more than 50 dead, widespread destruction and forced the resignation of her predecessor.

Ms. Karki, Nepal’s first woman Prime Minister, was appointed by President Ram Chandra Poudel who administered the oath of office in a ceremony attended by youth representatives, officials and foreign diplomats, media reported.

According to media reports, she has been tasked to organize fresh elections within 6 months.

She has served as the only woman chief justice, leading the Supreme Court from 2016 to 2017.

Hanna Singer Hamdy, UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal, in a statement said “At this pivotal moment, the United Nations stands alongside the people of Nepal in their aspirations for peace, justice, transparency, accountability and progress” .

She also recognized the contributions of the President, the Chief of Army Staff and ‘GenZ’ youth leaders, noting that their efforts “helped make this transition possible.”

UN remains committed to working with the Government to support stability, human rights and sustainable development, the statement added.

UNICEF congratulated Ms. Karki, saying her appointment “is an inspiration for girls and women,” and highlighted the importance of placing children’s rights at the centre of Nepal’s recovery.

UNDP, UNFPA, also expressed support for her leadership, emphasized inclusive governance, gender equality, and the protection of women and youth.

The appointment came after grave challenges.

The unrest began Monday as a self-styled “Gen Z protest” against corruption, nepotism and social media restrictions. Security forces opened fire on crowds, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries.

Protesters stormed and torched key institutions, including the parliament, Supreme Court, federal and provincial government offices, and political party offices, while also targeting media outlets, schools, businesses and homes.

UN reported that jailbreaks occurred in several locations, and reports suggest some demonstrations may have been infiltrated by outside actors and groups, further complicating security.

The army assumed control of nationwide security late Tuesday, deployed troops across the Kathmandu Valley and imposed movement restrictions to stabilize the situation, as per media reports.