A Madhesi political party on Tuesday called off its indefinite strike and road blockades in Nepal's southern Terai region after considering the severe impact it was having on civilians.

"We don't want innocent civilians, especially poor villagers, to suffer from lack of access to health services, livelihood and food supplies," Sarbodha Ojha, local leader of the Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF), told IRIN in Nepalgunj - a key city in the west of the Terai region about 600km west of the capital, Kathmandu

"We will prevent any political activities that would affect the people but will continue organising programmes to pressure the government," Ojha added.

Since 6 March, the MPRF has been spearheading an indefinite strike in the Terai. They have been protesting against the government's failure to meet their demands for greater autonomy and more political rights for the Madhesi community, who make up nearly 50 percent of Nepal's 27 million inhabitants.

Protesters had blocked roads with logs and rocks while the government imposed a 12-hour daytime curfew, which meant many people from villages in the area were unable to reach hospitals for treatment.

"We know that the people are suffering, there is also growing danger of a medicines shortage," Narendraraj Sharma, the chief district officer, said. "But we are unable to do much because our concern is security."

Ram Yadav, a 60-year-old patient, and his wife walked nearly three hours from their village to reach the city hospital in Nepalgunj. He still had another two hours to walk as he was unable to find an ambulance. "I don't know how long I will survive if I continue walking like this," he said on Monday.

Jitendra Mahaseth, director of Nepalgaunj Medical Teaching Hospital (NMTH), told IRIN that many sick villagers had to stay at home due to the road blockade.

"We had only a few patients over the past several days and this is causing concern," said Mahaseth, whose hospital is usually overcrowded with patients.

No vehicles have been able to reach villages to help patients. "Humanitarian services should be allowed in. The blockade is causing obstacles to the movement of ambulances even," said local aid worker Bhola Mahat from the local Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) NGO.

The only medical aid in villages throughout Terai comes through government health centres, which are poorly equipped and have only basic medicines. The elderly, children and women with pregnancy-related complications have been suffering most as many villages lack doctors and skilled medical workers, according to NMTH doctors.

The Nepal Red Cross Society has been unable to deliver emergency supplies to those needing assistance because of the road blockades.

Villagers who had travelled to cities have been stranded there waiting for the strike to end.