Nepal 'near humanitarian abyss'

Maoists want to overthrow the Hindu monarchy

Nepal is on the brink of a humanitarian crisis, the United Nations and international agencies have warned.

Conflict between security forces and Maoist guerrillas has left civilians and refugees exposed and often cut off from aid supplies and medical help.

In a statement, the UN, European Union and nine Western aid agencies urged both sides to respect human rights.

Nepal's government said the criticism was misplaced, and that it was overcoming the Maoist blockades.

Fatal childbirth

Nepal's King Gyanendra imposed emergency rule in February, seizing absolute power and curbing freedoms.

Since then rebels have intensified attacks.

"The United Nations and bilateral donor agencies in Nepal urge all parties to ensure that movement of supplies and vehicles intended to alleviate the suffering of civilian populations are not restricted," the statement says.

It goes on to list in stark terms the difficulties facing Nepalese civilians caught up in the ongoing conflict.

Insecurity, armed activity and Maoist blockades are pushing Nepal towards the abyss of a humanitarian crisis UN and donors statement

According to the organisations, Nepalese are often denied access to humanitarian and medical supplies because of security roadblocks set up by Maoists.

Children are among the worst affected, it says, with many suffering from a lack of vitamins and essential drugs.

Credible reports have emerged in recent weeks that some women died in childbirth because they were unable to reach medical help, the statement adds.

There is also concern for the fate of 100,000 Bhutanese refugees in eastern Nepal, who are dependent on relief but find the flow of aid regularly blocked.

"Insecurity, armed activity and Maoist blockades are pushing Nepal towards the abyss of a humanitarian crisis," the groups conclude.

King criticised

The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kathmandu says the statement is brief, almost terse, and reminds both the security forces and Maoist guerrillas that they should protect civilians and ensure free passage of relief.

But this is a conflict in which civilians are repeatedly victimised and the Geneva Conventions commonly violated, our correspondent adds.

Highway blockades are hurting civilians, the groups warn

Separately, a report by the International Committee of Jurists, a human rights group, is heavily critical of King Gynanendra's declaration of a state of emergency.

Hundreds of political activists, journalists, students, human rights defenders and lawyers have been arrested since the king took power in February.

Commenting after returning from a visit to Nepal, ICJ Secretary General Nicholas Howen said: "It was clear during our visit that human rights defenders face a suffocating atmosphere of intimidation and control, where criticism is not tolerated.

"We heard pleas from Nepalis themselves for the international community to demand a return to the rule of law and respect for human rights."

Kirti Nidhi Bista, the deputy chairman of the council of ministers, denied human rights were being violated, and told the BBC that there was no clampdown on free speech.

Nearly 11,000 people have been killed in the 10 years since the Maoists began their fight to replace the country's constitutional monarchy.