Cold weather and lack of medicine claim 150 lives in Ingushetia
Birmingham, 17th December 1999.
The Government of Ingushetia has reported that in the last two months over 150 Chechen refugees have died in the camps on the border with Chechnya. Most of the victims were women and children. The latest exodus of refugees from Grozny is expected to increase making the refugee crisis in Ingushetia even more critical.
Islamic Relief has been active in the area by providing aid to those refugees inside Ingushetia.
In the last week Islamic Relief has distributed a further 2950 food packets in the 'Sputnik', 'Severnii' and 'Karabulak' refugee camps.
Since the start of the Chechnya Refugees Relief Programme (CRRP1) on the 25th November, Islamic Relief has:
Distributed 5900 food packets amounting to 89 tonnes of food.
Installed 20 water tanks with another 10 on the way. Each has a 3 tonne capacity; these will be filled on a regular basis to provide clean water to 8 camps.
Two of the four proposed mobile clinics / ambulances have arrived to provide much needed medical help.
Secured 5000 plastic water containers which will be distributed to the refugees this week.
Secured 5000 blankets - to be delivered and distributed next week.
Been authorised by the Russian and Ingush authorities to establish an aid programme.
Organised offices, warehousing and personnel to facilitate the CRRP1
Further details available on: www.islamic-relief.org.uk
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Agency Background
Islamic Relief is an international Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that was established in Birmingham, UK in 1984. It seeks to promote sustainable economic and social development by working with local communities through relief and development Programmes. Our programmes are either development, emergency relief or orphan support in nature. Our core geographical focus areas Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bangladesh, Chechnya, Gaza Strip, Kosovo, Mali, India, Pakistan and Sudan.
We are members of the UN Economic and Social Council (special category), signatories to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGO's Disaster Relief and members of British Overseas NGOs for Development (BOND).