UN Experts Condemn Mass Evictions in Kathmandu as Thousands Face Displacement

United Nations human rights experts have expressed grave concern over a sweeping eviction campaign in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu that has displaced thousands of residents from informal riverside settlements, warning the actions may violate both international law and Nepal’s constitutional obligations.

The forced eviction drive, which began on 25 April 2026, has targeted vulnerable communities living along river corridors in areas including Thapathali, Manohara, Sinamangal, Balkhu, Bansighat, Balaju, Sankhamul, Anamnagar near the Dhobikhola corridor, and Kapan. The demolitions have intensified fears of a growing humanitarian crisis in the city as displaced families struggle with homelessness, uncertainty, and psychological trauma.

“We are deeply troubled by reports that thousands of people — many of whom are internally displaced and in situations of acute vulnerability — are being evicted without adequate safeguards,” the UN experts said.

“Such actions risk violating Nepal’s obligations under international human rights law and its own constitutional protections.”

Thousands Reportedly Given Only 24 Hours to Leave

According to information received by the UN Working Group and special rapporteurs, authorities reportedly provided residents in several settlements with only 24 hours’ notice before demolition operations began.

Human rights experts said such limited warning fails to meet internationally recognised standards for lawful evictions, which require meaningful consultation, proper notice periods, legal remedies, and resettlement planning.

“Such short notice fails to meet requirements of meaningful consultation and adequate preparation,” the experts said.

“Affected communities must be informed, consulted, and provided access to legal remedies and assistance.”

Eyewitness accounts and local advocacy groups say bulldozers and demolition teams rapidly dismantled homes and informal shelters, leaving many families without secure alternative accommodation or access to basic services.

The United Nations warned that emergency shelters reportedly provided to some displaced residents fail to meet minimum human rights standards, with concerns over overcrowding, sanitation, healthcare access, and long-term security.

Two Deaths Deepen Human Rights Concerns

UN experts said they were particularly alarmed by reports that two residents died amid the eviction campaign, with both deaths suspected to be linked to distress caused by the forced displacement.

On 24 April, an 18-year-old resident of the Manohara settlement reportedly died by suicide inside his home shortly before demolition operations began.

A second death occurred on 1 May when the body of a 61-year-old resident from the Balkhu settlement was recovered from the Bagmati River. Authorities reportedly suspect suicide linked to fears surrounding eviction and displacement.

“The fact that these individuals appear to have taken their own lives out of desperation stemming from ongoing forced evictions is deeply distressing,” the experts said.

The UN has called for an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into both deaths and the broader eviction operation.

“Authorities must provide immediate protection, psychosocial support, and adequate compensation to affected families,” the experts said.

Possible Violations of International and Domestic Law

The United Nations warned that Nepal’s actions may violate multiple international human rights obligations, including commitments under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), to which Nepal is a state party.

The covenant recognises the right to adequate housing and protects individuals against forced evictions unless strict legal safeguards are met.

International standards require that evictions occur only in exceptional circumstances and only after exploring all feasible alternatives, including in-situ upgrading and negotiated relocation.

The experts stressed that governments must ensure adequate alternative housing, compensation, and uninterrupted access to education, healthcare, and essential services before carrying out displacement operations.

“This is not a sudden unforeseeable natural disaster,” the experts said.

“It is a coordinated eviction drive organised by public authorities. In such situations, the State must undertake proper planning to ensure all residents are resettled.”

Supreme Court Ruling and Constitutional Protections Under Scrutiny

The eviction campaign is also raising serious constitutional questions within Nepal.

Human rights experts noted that a July 2024 ruling by Nepal’s Supreme Court requires the government to ensure alternative housing arrangements before evicting landless families living in riverside settlements.

Nepal’s constitution further obliges the state to provide land and rehabilitation support for landless Dalits and other marginalised groups through housing, land allocation, or livelihood assistance.

“Proceeding without verified resettlement would not only contravene international standards but may also violate binding judicial decisions,” the UN experts warned.

Legal analysts and housing rights organisations inside Nepal have argued that the government’s actions risk undermining constitutional protections related to due process, social justice, and housing rights.

Rapid Urbanisation and Land Pressures Fuel Tensions

Kathmandu’s informal settlements have expanded significantly over the past two decades due to rapid urbanisation, internal migration, poverty, and displacement caused by natural disasters and economic hardship.

Many riverside settlements are occupied by low-income families who lack access to affordable housing within the city and work in informal sectors including construction, domestic labour, transport, and street vending.

Authorities have increasingly argued that informal riverside communities contribute to environmental degradation, flood risks, and urban planning challenges.

However, housing advocates say eviction campaigns frequently target vulnerable populations without addressing the underlying shortage of affordable housing or providing sustainable resettlement options.

The latest demolitions have reignited debate in Nepal over balancing urban development, environmental management, and the rights of marginalised communities.

Calls for Immediate Halt and Inclusive Urban Planning

The UN experts urged Nepal’s government to immediately suspend further evictions and engage directly with affected communities through meaningful dialogue.

“All feasible alternatives must be explored, including in-situ solutions and inclusive urban planning,” the experts said.

They also called for any future resettlement efforts to fully comply with the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement and the Guiding Principles on Resettlement.

The experts reiterated their willingness to support Nepal in developing rights-based housing policies that protect vulnerable populations while addressing urban planning concerns.

“Respect for human dignity, the rule of law and social justice must guide all responses,” they said.

“No one should be left homeless as a result of State action.”

The latest intervention follows previous warnings issued by UN experts over earlier forced evictions and demolitions in Kathmandu’s Thapathali informal settlement along the Bagmati River, where tensions between authorities and residents have persisted for several years.