Nepal shares a long and open border with India, granting citizens of both countries free cross-border movement following the Treaty of Peace and Friendship in 1950. Along the border there are numerous ground crossing points (GCPs), of which the majority are informal and 14 are formal government-designated crossing points. In an effort to stop the spreading of the COVID-19, also widely known as the novel coronavirus that emerged in December 2019, the Government of Nepal, while maintaining the open GCPs, established health desks for screening migrants crossing the border. Following the second wave in the country, a number of gaps at the GCPs were identified and raised, including low testing capacity, insufficient screening, recording and reporting of migrant movement and COVID-19 positive cases, lacking protection referral services and lacking access to isolation centres for identified positive cases.

In this context, IOM implemented a project entitled “Effective case management by strengthening Isolation centres and Ground Crossing Points (GCPs) management for Rapid Response and Preparedness against COVID-19” from 14th September 2021 to 14th March 2023 to support the government. The project is funded by European Union Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO). Based on the high mobility of the people, the project is implemented in six government designated GCPs, namely Kakarbhitta in Province 1, Inarwa/Birgunj in Madhesh Province, Krishnanagar and Jamunaha in Lumbini Province, Gauriphanta and Gaddachauki in Sudurpaschim Province.

The project seeks to support the government on rapid response and preparedness against COVID-19 by strengthening the health desk and to promote safe, orderly and dignified migration. The planned interventions under project are as follows-

  1. Strengthen the overall capacity of the health-based facilities and services at 6 GCPs.
  2. Improve WASH facilities at 6 GCPs.
  3. Strengthen protection mechanisms at 6 GCPs

Please find the Project brief here.

Please find the Training brief here.

Please find the Illustrated Human Interest Stories here.

Please find the DTM Flow Monitoring Brief Video here.

Please find the Displacement Tracking Matrix – Flow Monitoring reports here – Round1, Round2, Round3 and Round4.

Please find the Displacement Tracking Matrix – Flow Monitoring maps below: