CWS Hotline - Week of 20/12/99: Violence continues in Chechnya at thousands seek refuge

As Russian forces continue to assault the Chechen capital of Grozny, in an attempt to gain control of the city by the New Year, some 200,000 Chechens are seeking safety in nearby Georgia, Ingushetia, Daghestan, and North Ossetia. With the onset of winter, many of the refugees face harsh conditions, and are suffering from lack of shelter, food, and medical care. Church World Service is seeking $125,000 to assist Action by Churches Together (ACT) in meeting emergency needs in the Chechnya region with blankets, food items, medical aid, sanitation supplies, shelter, and trauma counseling.