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 CHF (11 mln 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 4 March inclusive.
At the beginning of February the ICRC
launched the annual appeal for more than 41 million CHF (25 mln dollars)
to support its activities in the Russian Federation in 2000, of which 75
percent is designated for response to the humanitarian emergency in the
North Caucasus. Donors are invited to contribute in the shortest delay
to this needy cause.
INGUSHETIA
ICRC
By 4 March 2000, when according to official statistics the total number of displaced from Chechnya to Ingushetia, registered by the Migration Service, amounted to 280,714, the ICRC had directly assisted cumulatively 267,507 of them in some 160 different distribution points throughout the Republic over the last 5 months.
Food assistance
- 69,773 Food parcels ( 1L vegetable oil, 1 kg sugar, 3 kg spaghetti, 3 kg rice, 2 kg canned meat, 0.5 kg salt and 100 gr yeast)
- 3,572 boxes of high protein biscuits (20 kg each box).
- 1,025,800 kg of wheat flour.
Non-food assistance
- 68,004 Hygienic kits (2.5 kg washing powder, 12 rolls toilet paper, 500 gr soap, 5 tubes toothpaste, 5 toothbrushes, 500ml shampoo, 5 disposable razors, 80 sanitary towels, 1 bath towel)
- 71,588 blankets
- 1,188 Kitchen sets (1 cooking pot (7L), 1 frying pan, 5 bowls, 5 plates, 5 cups, 5 knives, 5 forks and 5 tablespoons)
- 9,402 jerry cans
- 5,302 buckets
- 1,036 wood heaters / lamps / burners
- 40,460 sq meters of plastic sheeting
- 123,928 candles
Medical assistance
All 5 hospitals of Ingushetia received assistance for 915 war wounded patients.
Water and sanitation activities
Since the end of November, when distributions of drinking water for IDPs began, more than 5,600 m3 have been provided to around 27,000 beneficiaries. 8 ICRC water cistern trucks continue to deliver water to 11 major distribution points both in IDP camps and places of IDPs' compact living. The average volume of distributed water per day is around 147 m3.
RUSSIAN RED CROSS (INGUSH REPUBLICAN BRANCH)
Food assistance
- 344,000 people in Ingushetia were provided with 227,000 loaves of bread in February, 62,000 portions of hot meals have been distributed at 3 soup kitchens during the same period.
Non-food assistance
- 10,000 persons were provided with warm clothes.
Medical assistance
- 4 226 patients were given medical assistance from 3 medical units in February including 1,847 children.
DAGESTAN
In Dagestan the ICRC, in co-operation with the local branch of the Russian Red Cross, began to assist Dagestanis in collective centres and the private sector, displaced as a result of hostilities as early as 10 August in Makhachkala and Buinaksk, and from October - Chechens, who found refuge primarily in Khasavyurt region. Over the period 10 August to 1 March, the ICRC provided food and non-food assistance cumulatively to 80,338 beneficiaries.
Food assistance
- 12,520 Food parcels
- 8,841 kg of high protein biscuits
- 140,450 kg of wheat flour
Non-food assistance
- 11,741 Hygienic kits
- 27,444 blankets
- 3,156 Kitchen sets
- 1,640 jerrycans
- 118 rolls of plastic sheeting
- 557 bales of second hand clothes (25-30 kg each)
- 1,542 tarpaulins
Medical assistance
315 war wounded have been provided with assistance since August. In January medical assistance was provided to Khasavyurt Central Hospital to treat 50 patients.
RUSSIAN RED CROSS (DAGESTAN REPUBLICAN BRANCH)
Food assistance
- 96,000 people in Dagestan were provided with 48,000 loaves of bread in February, 20,300 portions of hot meals have been distributed at 1 soup kitchen for the same period.
Non-food assistance
- 7,000 persons were provided with warm clothes in February.
Medical assistance
- 372 patients were given medical assistance from 1 medical unit in the same period, including 67 children.
CHECHNYA
Until 6 November, when the ICRC was forced to evacuate its 38 staff members to neighbouring Ingushetia due to the deteriorating security situation, the ICRC had been carrying out its usual bread and water provision programmes in favour of the civilian population and support to the local branch of the Russian Red Cross even after renewed hostilities in Chechnya flared up at the end of September. Its 38 staff members provided, in addition, medical assistance to 1,205 war wounded. The ICRC is actively exploring the possibility to extend its humanitarian operations to Chechnya.
NORTH OSSETIA AND KABARDINO-BALKARIA
ICRC
3,500 IDPs from Chechnya, accomodated in North Ossetia, and 3,430 IDPs, accommodated in public buildings in Kabardino-Balkaria, were also provided with ad hoc food and non-food assistance (food parcels, wheat floor and hygienic kits).
The military hospitals in Nalchik, Mozdok, Kislovodsk were assisted with emergency and surgical material to treat 840 war wounded.
RUSSIAN RED CROSS (LOCAL BRANCHES)
Food assistance
- 52,000 people in North Ossetia were provided with a total of 26,000 loaves of bread in February, 8,400 portions of hot meals have been distributed at 1 soup kitchen in the same period.
Non-food assistance
- Distribution of warm clothes in North Ossetia and in Kabardino-Balkaria has continued in February.
OUTSIDE NORTH CAUCASUS
The Russian Red Cross, with the support of the International Federation, provides emergency assistance, psycho-social counselling, legal advice and medical services to IDPs from Chechnya, accommodated in regions outside the North Caucasus. From 1 November 1999 till 25 February 2000 the Russian Red Cross provided 17,360 food parcels, 17,119 hygienic kits, 3,781 blankets to IDPs at 48 distribution points in seven regions of the RF (Stavropol, Krasnodar, Rostov, Volgograd, Astrakhan, Saratov and Kalmykia).
RED CROSS PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN EMERGENCY OPERATION in the north caucasus
ICRC
6 expatriates permanently based in Nalchik and supported by 4 specialists (logistic, relief, medical, water and sanitation engineer) from headquarters in Geneva. 190 national staff all over the North Caucasus.
Russian Red Cross
Permanent staff - 45 (delegated from the Central Committee and in the field)
International Federation
Delegates and local staff in Moscow offer support to the Russian Red Cross outside the North Caucasus in favour of IDPs.