New York: The United Nations has said that Nepal is eligible to receive aid from a special fund of the world body which would support "key areas in the peace process" in the Himalayan nation.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon decided that Nepal is eligible to receive assistance from the UN Peace-Building Fund, set up a year ago to help nations emerging from conflict to consolidate their gains and avoid slipping back into war.

To ensure that effective usage of funds, Ban has asked his Special Representative and the UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) to ensure that the aid is targeted to priority peace-process needs identified by the UN after consulting the government and other parties.

The assistance from the Peace-building Fund will be channeled through the UN Peace Fund for Nepal, the existing funding mechanism, the world body said. Carolyn McAskie, Assistant Secretary-General for Peace-building Support said Nepal was declared eligible for assistance from the Fund "because there is pressing need to consolidate the country's peaceful gains and ensure key areas in the peace process are supported."

An estimated 13,000 people were killed and 100,000 to 200,000 displaced during the decade-long civil conflict in Nepal that formally ended when the government and Maoists signed a peace accord last year.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other agencies are helping tens of thousands of the displaced who have returned to their homes to rebuild their lives since the end of the conflict.

Among the challenges faced by returnees are land seizure and finding sustainable livelihood.

Source : PTI