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The ICRC mine awareness programme gets off the ground
Following an assessment on anti-personnel mines and unexploded ordinances (UXOs) in the North Caucasus, the ICRC organised a five-day seminar for its local staff in Nalchik in order to launch a mine-awareness programme in the region. Participants defined the main vectors of this programme as education and first aid to mine victims. It is intended for IDPs in Indushetia and Dagestan with approaches adapted to either adults or children. It is planned to extend this project to the territory of Chechnya in the future.
ICRC and RRC (Russian Red Cross) provide medical assistance in Chechnya
The ICRC and the Russian Red Cross have extended their joint programme of basic medical assistance to Chechnya to provide medical support to the population in the devastated republic. A health post, staffed by local Red Cross medical personnel, was opened in Grozny to offer medical consulations and treatment as will three mobile units travelling within Chechnya as security permits. Three vans, medical equipment and medicines were provided by the ICRC for this project.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
The five-month plan of action for November 1999 to March 2000, financed by the ICRC appeal on behalf of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement for 18 million Swiss francs (11 mln. US dollars) expanded the initial response by the ICRC. This appeal was covered in its entirety, which allowed the Movement to co-ordinate a global humanitarian response which is detailed below for the period 9 October to 17 September inclusive.
At the beginning of February the ICRC launched the annual appeal for more than 41 million Swiss francs (25 mln. US dollars) to support its activities in the Russian Federation in 2000, of which three quarters is designated for response to the humanitarian emergency in the North Caucasus.
OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW
INGUSHETIA
ICRC
ICRC assists around 45,000 IDPs (internally displaced people) from Chechnya every month in some 160 different distribution points throughout Ingushetia. By 17 September 2000, 145,000 IDPS were reported to be registered with the Migration Service.
Medical assistance
The five main hospitals in Ingushetia receive ICRC medical emergency assistance on a monthly basis. To date these structures have received medical aid sufficient to treat about 1700 war wounded patients.
Cumulatively, over the last 11 months, more than 502,000 IDPs have beneficiated from the following distributions:
Food assistance
- 175,417 food parcels (1 L vegetable oil, 1kg sugar, 3 kg spaghetti, 3kg rice, 2kg canned food, 0,5 salt and 100 gr yeast)
- 3,572 boxes of high protein biscuits (20 kg each box)
- 2,520,3T wheat flour
Non food assistance
- 158,181 hygienic kits (2,5 kg washing powder, 12 rolls of toilet paper, 500 gr soap, 5 tubes toothpaste, 5 toothbrushes, 5 disposable razors, 80 sanitary towels, 1 bath towel)
- 71,824 blankets
- 1'223 kitchen sets (1 cooking pot (7L), 1 frying pan, 5 bowls, 5 plates, 5 cups, 5 knives, 5 forks, 5 table spoons)
- 9'402 jerrycans
- 5'302 buckets
- 1,064 wood heaters/lamps/burners
- 41,540 sq meters of plastic sheeting
- 397,340 candles
The average volume of water distributed daily to nearly 35,000 beneficiairies amounts to some 320m3. 16 ICRC water cistern trucks deliver water at 70 distribution points both in IDP camps and places of compact living, where 22 bladders and 10 shower facilities have been installed. Since the end of November, when distribution of drinking water for IDP's began, over 58,500 m3 have been provided.
RUSSIAN RED CROSS (INGUSH REPUBLICAN BRANCH)
Food assistance: since December 1999, IDPS have been provided with 2,007,000 loaves of bread and about 400,600 hot meals prepared in 6 soup kitchens.
Non-food assistance: during the same period, 104'500 IDPs were provided with shoes and clothes. Another 3,010 received matresses and pillows.
Medical assistance: over 21'000 patients, including 9'430 children, received medical assistance from 3 medical units operational since December 1999.
DAGESTAN
ICRC
In Dagestan, the ICRC, in co-operation with the local branch of the Russian Red Cross, began to assist Dagestanis who had been displaced as a result of hostilities in Makhachkala and Buinaksk as early as August 1999. In October 1999, Chechens who had found refuge mainly in Khasavyurt region started receiving assistance as well. Currently, the ICRC assists about 10'000 IDPS on a monthly basis.
Furthermore, three schools in the Republic's Novolak district have been supplied with school articles for 1'300 pupils.
Since August 1999 medical structures were provided with sufficient assistance to treat 645 war wounded.
RUSSIAN RED CROSS (DAGESTAN REPUBLICAN BRANCH)
Food assistance: since December 1999, IDPs have been provided with over 424,000 loaves of bread and 134,400 portions of hot meals prepared in 2 soup kitchens.
Non-food assistance: during the same period, about 20'000 IDPS were provided with shoes and clothes.
Medical assistance: 3'600 patients, including 1'300 children received medical assistance from 1 medical unit operational since December 1999.
CHECHNYA
Following the suspension of its assistance programmes in Chechnya last November due to security reasons, the ICRC extended its activities to the territory of the Republic by the end of March 2000. In a first phase, the ICRC conducted assessment missions to evaluate the most urgent needs and then it responded accordingly. Regular missions have been undertaken by the ICRC and RRC local staff, namely to Grozny, Achkhoy-Martan, Urus-Martan, Argun, Gudermes. The most urgent needs of the population have been identified as lack of food, medicines, clean drinking water.
To date, the ICRC has delivered sufficient emergency medical assistance to local hospitals to treat about 1,500 war wounded and other patients.
Since the beginning of last May joint ICRC-RCC programmes of free bread distribution and of home-visiting nurses have been re-activated. Each month, an average of 12,000 people in Grozny, Shali, Gudermes, Argun, Urus-Martan and Achkhoi-Martan are being provided a daily loaf of bread and 720 particularly vulnerable beneficiaries in Grozny are being assisted on a regular basis by 57 home visiting nurses.
NORTH OSSETIA, KABARDINO-BALKARIA, SOUTH OF RUSSIA
ICRC
ICRC has provided 3'500 IDPs from Chechnya in North-Ossetia and 3'500 IDPs in Kabardino-Balkaria with ad hoc food and non-food assistance (food parcels, wheat flour and hygienic kits).
The military hospitals in Nalchik, Mozdok, Vladikavkaz, Kislovodsk and Pyatigorsk were assisted with sufficient emergency and surgical material to treat over 1'400 war wounded.
The Mozdok regional Epidemiological Centre has been provided with medical material on a monthly basis.
RUSSIAN RED CROSS (LOCAL BRANCHES)
Food assistance Since the beginning of the programme in December 1999, IDPs in North Ossetia have been provided with nearly 190'000 loaves of bread have been distributed to IDPs and have received 55'000 hot meals prepared in 1 soup kitchen.
Non-food assistance During the same period, over 7'500 IDPs in North Ossetia and about 1'800 in Kabardino-Balkaria have received shoes and clothes.
OUTSIDE NORTH CAUCASUS
The Russian Red Cross, with the support of the ICRC and the International Federation, provides emergency assistance, psycho-social counselling, legal advice and medical services to IDP's from Chechnya, accommodated in regions outside the Northern Caucasus.
Between 1 November 1999 and 31 August 2000 the Russian Red Cross provided over 48,700 food parcels, 55,200 hygienic kits, 5,500 blankets and 3,800 medical kits to IDP's at 48 distribution points in seven regions of the RF (Stavropol, Krasnodar, Rostov, Volgograd, Asdtrakhan, Saratov and Kalmykia).
ICRC DETENTION ACTIVITIES
Since 17 May, ICRC delegates have visited persons detained by the Russian authorities in relation to the Chechen conflict in 25 detention places inside and outside Chechnya. The detainees were given the opportunity to write Red Cross messages to their families or relatives if they whished to do so. These visits are being conducted after President Vladimir Putin gave assurances to ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger, during talks held in Moscow on 30 March 2000, that ICRC delegates would be granted access to all persons detained in connection with the conflict, wherever they are being held.
RED CROSS PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN NORTHERN CAUCASUS OPERATION
ICRC
12 expatriates permanently based in Nalchik and 219 national staff all over the North Caucasus
Russian Red Cross
45 permanent staff
International Federation
Delegates and local staff in Moscow offer support to the Russian Red Cross outside the North Caucasus