Updated: October 30, 2026
Political developments linked to the increasing influence of China on Nepal and shifts in the balance of power in the Himalayan kingdom transformed the situation for Tibetan refugees in 2005. The risks for Tibetans transiting through Nepal increased dramatically over the year with the notice to close the office of the Dalai Lama’s representative in Kathmandu and the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office, both critical for the security and welfare of Tibetan exiles in Nepal. The closures took place in the context of King Gyanendra’s seizure of power in February 2005 and the ongoing Maoist insurgency in Nepal, which has claimed more than 13,000 lives.
