Kathmandu, November 14

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has underlined Nepal’s right of free transit as a landlocked nation.

It’s the first time that the head of the global body spoke clearly against the ‘unofficial blockade’. However, he didn’t use the term blockade to refer the situation.

Reiterating his concern over the continued obstruction of essential supplies on the Nepal-India border, Ban called for all sides to lift the protracted obstructions without further delay.

“He underlines Nepal’s right of free transit, as a landlocked nation as well as for humanitarian reasons, and calls on all sides to lift the obstructions without further delay,” read a statement issued Wednesday by his official spokesperson attributing to the SG.

The Secretary-General warned that the acute shortages in fuel supplies continue to impede planned deliveries to earthquake-affected villages in Nepal.

“Humanitarian organisations urgently require fuel to maintain operations and deliver food, warm clothing and shelter materials to high altitude areas,” it added.