ACT Appeal Chechnya - Emergency Relief for Displaced - EUCN91Rev. 1

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Appeal Target : US$ 983,689
Balance Requested from ACT Network: US$ 319,327
Geneva, 18 May 2000

Dear Colleagues,

This revision of the EUCN91 only affects the Norwegian Church Aid / Center for Peace Making and Community Development (NCA/CPCD) project. The project costs for NCA/CPCD have risen from US$225,877 to US$392,300 due to an increase in the cost of commodities. The beneficiary target group remains the same and the project implementation is to the end of June, 2000.

For the sake of brevity, we will not repeat the details of the Dutch Inter Church Aid / ARD projects which you will find in the original appeal of 3 November 1999.

It is important to mention that other ACT members who are not in this appeal but working in the North Caucasus are being made aware of all the implementation changes taking place in this appeal.

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested

Please kindly send your contributions to the ACT bank account and inform this office of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent direct to the implementers. Please note the Pledge Form is no longer attached with the Appeal.

Account Number - 102539/0.01.061 (USD)
Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together
Banque Edouard Constant
Cours de Rive 11
Case postale 3754
1211 Genève 3
SWITZERLAND

We would appreciate being informed of any intent to submit applications for EU, USAID and/or back donor funding and the subsequent results. We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation.

For further information, please contact:

ACT Co-ordinator, Thor-Arne Prois (phone 41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone ++ 41 79 203 6055)
or
ACT Appeals Officer, John Nduna (phone +41 22 791 6040 or mobile phone ++41 79 433 0592)

ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org

Thor-Arne Prois
ACT Coordinator

ACT is a worldwide network of churches and related agencies meeting human need through coordinated emergency response.

The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.

I. REQUESTING ACT MEMBER

• Norwegian Church Aid

II. IMPLEMENTING AGENCY

• Centre for Peacemaking and Community Development

The Centre for Peacemaking and Community Development (CPCD) has local structures in place in Ingushetia and Chechnya, having continued working in the region constantly since 1995. In the last year, the work has been conducted by remote control through a committed, experienced local team.

CPCD is able to continue working due to trained and experienced local staff, who are at less risk than foreigners of being kidnapped or targeted in other ways. CPCD has strong, well-established local structures. Representatives remain in close contact with ex-patriate staff in the CPCD in Moscow. The CPCD administrator in Moscow is Chechen and can travel freely to Ingushetia. Similarly, programme coordinators in Ingushetia and Chechnya are able to visit Moscow regularly. CPCD ex-patriate staff occasionally visit Ingushetia to monitor and coordinate work on the ground, with security provided by the Ingush MVD.

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMERGENCY SITUATION

As Grozny was reduced to rubble by the iccessant pounding by the Russian military in pursuit of the Chechan rebels, the number of the IDPs in Ingushetia remained around 250,000, according to the Ministry for Emergencies of Ingushetia, confirmed by staff of the Centre for Peacemaking and Community Development in Nazran. This figure was also cited by UN agencies in Moscow. The figure includes 40,000 IDPs already in Ingushetia before the present crisis. Around 210,000 new IDPs entered Ingushetia during the conflict. The flow of IDPs from Chechnya is continuing, as Russian Forces continue to attack inhabited areas in Chechnya.

It is estimated that the vast majority of the IDPs are children - around 70 per cent. The remaining 30 per cent consists mainly of women, and also old people. There are few men residing as IDPs in Ingushetia at present, partly because until recently they were not allowed to cross the border from Chechnya freely.

The tiny Republic of Ingushetia, with a population of only 300,000, does not have the infrastructure nor resources to absorb the IDPs. Around 80-90 per cent of IDPs are living in houses/flats, with the remaining 10-20 per cent in camps, including tents and railway carriages. Although the people have survived the severe cold, the conditions still remain very tough.

As referred to above, Ingushetia has had around 20,000 IDPs from the prigorodnyi region of North Ossetia to accommodate, mainly of Ingush nationality, since 1992. In addition, there have been 20,000 IDPs from Chechnya since the war 1994-1996, and the republic was not prepared for the large numbers of IDPs it has reduced up to day.

Those IDPs with relatives and close friends in Ingushetia have met hospitality there. Otherwise, accommodation has to be rented if no places are available in camps, and prices are often more than the IDPs can afford. More still are living in make-shift tents or deserted buildings.

The international community and the Russian Emergencies Ministry have tried to provide basic survival items, but the response so far as does not meet the needs by far.

Few NGOs are active in Ingushetia or the North Caucasus due to the security risk, and a series of kidnappings, particularly in 1996 and 1997, when most NGOs withdrew.

IV. APPEAL GOAL

Has not changed from the one given in the original appeal , and that is to provide assistance to the targeted 2,000 families among the most affected by distributing food and non-food along with hygiene articles.

V. BENEFICIARY INFORMATION AND TARGETED AREAS

The aid program is to be distributed according to lists of families most in need, living in IDP camps in Ingushetia. These camps are situated mainly in the Sunzhenski region, which covers Eastern Ingushetia. There are also camps in the Malgobek and Nazran regions of Ingushetia. The aid will be distributed according to the greatest need and in coordination with the work and with consideration of advice by the local authorities and other NGOs, ICRC and UN agencies, to avoid duplicated efforts in any particular place and target those most in need of assistance. CPCD has close contact with these organizations both in Moscow and the ground.

VI. DESCRIPTION OF TARGETED ASSISTANCE

The following items are required to provide emergency aid to those most in need in Ingushetia. All of the below can be purchased locally in Ingushetia and Kabardino-Balkaria, at discount price for bulk purchase.

Food stuffs and sanitary products will be distributed to 2,000 families; 1,000 families in Ingushetia and 1,000 families in Chechnya. The food will be distributed five times (i.e. each family will receive five food boxes - at 2-3 weekly intervals). The sanitary products will be distributed in March and April as one sanitary box. Food for young children is not being provided by other relief agencies and is urgently required. CPCD therefore plans to distribute 12,500 small boxes of food and vitamins for 2500 young children (2500 boxes 5 times).

CPCD has purchased and established a bakery in Ingushetia, in order to provide bread daily for IDPs in the Sunzhenski region (mainly in Sleptsovksaya). The bakery will enable us to distribute 2000 loaves of bread per day, also to the most vulnerable in IDP camps.

Clothing is in serious short supply among IDPs, especially children. Therefore, it is proposed to distribute clothing to IDPs, as described below.

VII. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AND MANAGEMENT

A family member will sign for each box of aid received each time (five boxes of food aid and one box of sanitary products). In this way, it will be possible to monitor whether the families on the list received the aid apportioned to them.

The CPCD has experience in compiling reports and accounts for its programmes in the North Caucasus. Receipts will be kept on the ground in Ingushetia and, and reports will be compiled in cooperation with the CPCD office in Moscow. The final financial report will be audited in Moscow. A narrative report will also be compiled and submitted.

VIII. IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE

The given programme is intended to last up to the end of June, 2000. It is envisioned that a further programme will be proposed by CPCD to continue the assistance, if the needs persist. Considering the developing situation, it is expected that the crisis will last beyond June, 2000.

IX. COORDINATION

CPCD offices in Nazran and Grozny have close relations with the local authorities in the two republics. The main authorities in Ingushetia dealing with the IDP crisis are the Emergencies Ministry and the Federal Migration Service. Both structures are offering the CPCD cooperation and information about numbers of IDPs and provisions already provided. The programme CPCD proposes will be coordinated carefully with these bodies.

In addition, CPCD is in contact with the UNHCR offices in Moscow, and with Russian Orthodox Church. Also with all NGOs with an interest or intention to begin working in the North Caucasus. UNHCR has already sent convoys to the area from their base in Stavropol. Their goods were distributed through the Ingush Emergencies Ministry. The Danish Refugee Council, Medecins du Monde and the Agency for Rehabilitation and Development are currently working in Ingushetia. CPCD coordinates all activities in Ingushetia with these NGOs, as well as ICRC and UNHCR.

Action Contre La Faim, the International Rescue Committee and Medecins Sans Frontieres Belgium and Holland are considering beginning a programme in the area. Their main problem is security, not having locally established structures. There are good relations between the NGOs working/ considering to work in the region, and regular coordination meetings take place in Moscow, in which CPCD participates. OCHA is to provide a brief newsletter every 2 weeks to inform these agencies of the developing situation and action.

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