Tibetan Refugees in Nepal

In 1959, His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet led a host of his people into exile to seek refuge in neighbouring countries. The vast majority of the group, some 50,000 to 55,000, has settled in India, 7,500 settled in Sikkim and Bhutan, and 8,000 in Nepal, of whom a total of some 2,600 live in settlements made available by the Government of Nepal. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in a programme of assistance to the Tibetan refugees in Nepal, has established five organized settlements -- Jawalakhel (Kathmandu), Tashi Ling, Tashi Palkhel, Chialsa and Dhorpatan. Since 1968, efforts have also been made to identify the problems of the scattered groups in Northern Nepal and to plan durable projects to facilitate their local integration.

Children at play in the Jawalakhel Tibetan Refugee Settlement near Patan Township in Kathmandu Valley in Nepal.

[This is an unprocessed archival image and not available for download. If you would like to use this image, please contact the UN Photo Library.]