Editorial photo #13653824 Social Issue

Nepal Government Demolishes Squatter Settlements In Kathmandu, Nepal

Nepal Armed Police and KMC police patrol the area as excavators demolish informal settlements along the Bishnumati River corridor during an eviction drive in Kathmandu, Nepal, on May 2, 2026. The operation is part of ongoing efforts to clear riverbanks for environmental restoration, flood control, and urban improvement under the Bagmati and Bishnumati river cleanup initiatives. Thousands of residents, many from marginalized communities, face displacement as settlements deemed illegal are removed, drawing criticism from human rights organizations over inadequate resettlement and housing provisions. According to the National Land Commission, there are an estimated 450,000 landless squatter families across Nepal. (Photo by Safal Prakash Shrestha/NurPhoto)