Forced Evictions in Kathmandu Threaten Human Rights
A rapidly evolving situation in Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley is raising serious human rights concerns, as large-scale forced evictions are displacing thousands of people from long-established riverbank settlements. The evictions directly affect communities where Samari Utthan Sewa (SUS), a KIOS grantee, is currently implementing its work.
The Government of Nepal has launched a demolition drive targeting so-called squatter settlements along major riverbanks in the Valley, including Thapathali, Gairigaun, Sinamangal and Manohara. The ongoing evictions campaign forms part of the government’s 100-point roadmap and is expected to continue in the coming days.
On 22 April 2026, shortly after the resignation of Home Minister Sudan Gurung, Prime Minister Balendra “Balen” Shah convened senior security officials, including the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police. He issued instructions to clear the settlements over the weekend of 25–26 April. The Kathmandu District Security Committee formalised the decision to proceed with the evictions on 23 April, in a meeting attended by representatives of Kathmandu Metropolitan City and security authorities.
SUS, a local human rights organisation and KIOS grantee, has been implementing their work in Kathmandu providing awareness raising and support to Dalits, persons with disabilities, women and girls, and gender and sexual minorities. The sudden loss of shelter and assets, the disruption to people’s livelihoods and household stability is posing an increased risk to these already vulnerable groups.
Many affected households rely on nearby informal employment (daily wage labour, domestic work, street vending, sex work), and beneficiaries who were engaging in livestock were directly affected by the evictions.
– Samari Utthan Sewa
Displacement Without Secure Alternatives
A meeting at the Ministry of Urban Development on 24 April outlined plans for eviction management, including awareness campaigns, humanitarian assistance, and the prioritisation of vulnerable groups such as children, persons with disabilities, pregnant and postpartum women, senior citizens, and persons with chronic illnesses. And as demolition began, some residents were able to move their belongings and seek alternative accommodation. Many others, however, remained exposed and vulnerable as their homes were destroyed without clear or secure resettlement plans in place.
Kathmandu’s informal settlements have long served as a crucial alternative for marginalised groups such as Dalits and LGBTQIA+ individuals, who often face discrimination and exclusion when trying to rent housing in formal urban areas.
– Samari Utthan Sewa
Authorities announced that people would be temporarily relocated to holding centres and shelters, where food, water, and medical services would be provided. From there, families are to be transferred to designated short-term housing sites, with future verification processes determining who may remain. Individuals who fail to meet verification criteria may eventually be asked to leave, further increasing uncertainty and insecurity.
The short eviction notice left many families scrambling for alternatives, while others questioned and critiqued the arrangements and their adequacy. Officials maintain that humanitarian concerns are being addressed with transport, medical and security measures but in reality, many affected families have been left without support.
Serious Human Rights Violations
SUS has raised grave concerns about the human rights implications of the evictions. The affected settlements have been home for generations to landless families, climate migrants, Dalit, Janajati, and working-class communities. Families have been displaced by force and placed in temporary holding centres without concrete plans for permanent resettlement, livelihoods, or security.
Civil society organisations report that access to information has been limited, making it difficult to monitor the conditions of displaced individuals. Human rights defenders warn that overcrowded and unsafe holding centres expose women, adolescent girls, children and LGBTQIA+ people to heightened risks of violence, abuse, and sexual exploitation. The treatment of displaced residents has also caused widespread psychological distress and fear among communities.
Children’s rights have been particularly affected. Many children have seen their education abruptly disrupted during exam periods, while witnessing the demolition of their homes has caused deep psychological trauma with potential long-term consequences. Pregnant women, new mothers, elderly persons and persons with disabilities face especially severe risks as they are pushed into precarious living conditions.
Legal Obligations Ignored
International human rights standards are clear: evictions should only occur in exceptional circumstances and must comply fully with human rights law. States are required to explore all feasible alternatives to eviction in consultation with affected communities, and to ensure adequate resettlement, protection and compensation.
Furthermore, Nepal’s Constitution guarantees the right to adequate housing and the right to live with dignity. Article 37 explicitly protects citizens from eviction except in accordance with the law, while Article 16 affirms the right of every person to live with dignity. According to SUS, the current eviction process contradicts both constitutional commitments and international obligations.
Call for Dialogue and Rights-Based Solutions
SUS strongly urges the Government of Nepal to halt forced evictions carried out without preparation or alternatives and to engage instead in dialogue, mutual agreement and just management practices. Meaningful resettlement plans, including secure land tenure and legal transfer of housing ownership, must be ensured before any further action is taken.
“It is the primary responsibility of the state to protect the dignity and legal rights of its citizens in all its actions,” SUS emphasises.
We strongly urge the state to abandon the path of force and immediately adopt dialogue, mutual agreement, and just management practices. Such brutal actions carried out without alternatives or preparation undermine the very essence of a democratic state.
Photos documenting the evictions have been provided by KIOS grantee SUS and their programme manager Shiva Hari Gyawali in April 2026.
Sources (updated on 7.5.2026)
Information received from Samari Utthan Sewa on 26th and 27th of April 2026.
What follows the unplanned demolition? 5.5.2026
Nepal’s Squatter Evictions Raise Due Process Concerns – The Diplomat 4.5.2026
Government launches drive to clear riverbank settlements 25.4.2026
Government’s 100 to-do list: Various committees, taskforce to be formed by a month 31.3.2026
Inside temporary shelters, displaced families adjust after evictions 28.4.2026