Nepal: world body sets up internal probe after UN vehicle accident kills two

The United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) has expressed its deep regret at the death of two pedestrians in an accident involving one of its vehicles and said it will set up an investigation into the incident.

On Sunday afternoon, an UNMIN vehicle transporting members of the UN verification teams was involved in an accident with three pedestrians some 16 kilometres from Dhangadhi in the country’s western region. Two pedestrians died and a third was seriously injured and taken to a local hospital.

“I am deeply saddened by this tragic accident and the loss of life and injury,” the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Nepal Ian Martin said in a statement.

Mr. Martin, who is also head of UNMIN, said the Mission “will do all it can to support the families in their time of grief,” and has sent Deputy Special Representative Tamrat Samuel to convey condolences to the families of the deceased.

“UNMIN will of course cooperate with the police in their investigations, and is immediately establishing its own Board of Inquiry in accordance with UN procedures,” the statement added.

The Mission was established this January to support Nepal’s peace process by helping to create conditions for the election to take place in a free and fair atmosphere, and to monitor the arms and armies of the former adversaries, the Maoist army and the Nepal Army, who are confined to cantonments and barracks in the lead-up to the election.