Manaslu Hunger Strike Suspended After Gandaki Government Pledges Action

GORKHA: An indefinite hunger strike at the Manaslu Base Camp has been suspended after the Gandaki Province government and the Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP) pledged to initiate steps to address the protesters’ demands.

Eleven youths led by Dawa Nurbu Lama had begun the hunger strike three days earlier, demanding measures to reduce climate-related risks, monitor glacial lakes and protect Himalayan communities.

The protesters had called for regular monitoring and measurement of glacial lakes, installation of water-level monitoring systems and warning sirens, studies on potential glacial lake outburst floods, and joint monitoring of glacial lakes along the Nepal-China border. They also demanded climate-change education in Himalayan schools and stronger action for climate justice and compensation.

Following commitments from the concerned authorities to work on the demands through dialogue and coordination, the protesters suspended the strike and returned to Samagaun. They said future action would depend on the progress made in implementing their demands.