Ingushetia Situation Report No. 16

Latest developments
1. UNHCHR visits Ingushetia and Chechnya and gives sharp comments over the human rights situation in the area.

2. OSCE urges legal action over Chechnya abuses.

3. ICRC is allowed to visit detention camps in Chechnya.

4. Pro-Moscow Chechens ask the acting President Putin for presidential rule over Chechnya.

5. Chechen fighters continue battling not only in the south of Chechnya but also in already liberated territory of the republic’s lowlands.

1. During her two-day trip to the North Caucasus, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs. Robinson, stopped in Ingushetia, which since the second war in Chechnya broke out, became home for more than 224,000 IDPs. On April 1, Mrs. Robinson went to an IDP camp in Sleptsovskaya village (Ingushetia) and had a talk with some of the displaced living in that compact settlement. She went into a tent that houses a dozen people to ask about the conditions at the camp and whether it was dangerous to return home. The Human Rights Commissioner was told by the IDPs that it is impossible to return, everyone has lost their homes, everyone had family members killed. In Chechnya in addition to alleged massacre sites, Robinson was not allowed to visit detention centers in Urus-Martan and Chernokozovo but said to had gained important evidence from several witnesses she met in refugee camps in neighboring Ingushetia. Their evidence I take very seriously because it was detailed, I believe it was very truthful, and it bears out the scale and seriousness of the human rights allegations and the need for an adequate response, she said. Robinson said she would present her report to the UN Human Rights Commission on 5 April. Robinson was to meet top officials in Moscow and said she hoped to talk to President-elect Vladimir Putin, although the Kremlin has given no indication whether a meeting will take place.

2. On March 31, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) called on Russia to launch court proceedings against anyone accused of human rights abuses in the Chechen republic. The 54-member security body's current chairperson, Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner, meanwhile announced she will travel to Moscow and Chechnya in mid-April. Ferrero-Waldner said she will lead a delegation to Moscow on April 13 for talks with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. She said the OSCE had three aims in the conflict: humanitarian, human rights and political - as agreed at the OSCE's November summit in Istanbul. OSCE plans to have a thorough talks over these three targets. Ferrero-Waldner also is going to visit Chechnya but according to her, exact itinerary in Chechnya had not yet been determined and would depend on the Russian side providing security for herself and her delegation. She said her initial objective will be to launch humanitarian initiatives and to ensure the return to Chechnya of the OSCE Assistance Group, which was forced to decamp to Moscow following last year's renewed war in the breakaway republic.

3. After months of prodding, acting President Vladimir Putin said on March 30 that he will let the International Committee of the Red Cross visit detention camps in Chechnya, where Chechen prisoners have complained of ill treatment and torture by Russian troops. The offer to open detention camps to outside observers was announced following a meeting between Putin and Jakob Kellenberger, the President of the ICRC. Mr. Kellenberger said that dangerous conditions may prevent the ICRC from visiting some Chechen detainees. According to him, there may be some grey areas where we have to decide which groups are covered.

4. On March 27, the RF President-Elect Putin was invited by the rebel republic's pro-Moscow leaders to introduce direct presidential rule in Chechnya. During the presidential election campaign Mr. Putin himself had floated the idea of direct presidential rule over Chechnya, whose elected President Aslan Maskhadov is considered an international terrorist by Moscow. The presidential rule idea promotes only a limited form of self-government and the republic's direct obedience to local Kremlin appointees.

5. Despite Russian attempts to block the rebels in the mountains and finish them off with air and artillery attacks, Chechen militants continue to sneak past Russian lines and raid Russian military posts and checkpoints in the north. That was confirmed on April 3 by the Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev. At present, sporadic outbursts of activity happen in Chechnya's lowlands on the part of the militants who have descended from the mountains practically unarmed and are teaming up in small groups, Sergeyev said. Russian troops continued combing the Vedeno district deep in the southern mountains in a search for comrades who have been missing after a rebel ambush on March 29. At least 43 Russian servicemen died as a result of the ambush - the latest in a series of attacks that inflicted heavy losses on the Russians and showed their vulnerability to the rebels.

Distribution

DRC Emergency Assistance Project

In the period from 19/03 to 30/03, DRC field workers conducted distributions of ECHO winter clothing, UNHCR winter clothing, soap, jerry cans and children’s tights for IDPs living in with host families in Ingushetia.

Total number of winter clothing distributed by DRC in Ingushetia so far:

Winter coats - 160,625
Winter boots - 92,790

Registration

As mentioned in earlier Situation Reports, DRC and UNHCR conducted a registration of the IDPs in Ingushetia from 15 January to 22 February. After that on-going registration points were established that allowed newly arrived IDPs to register as well. However, during the first week of the continued registration almost 30,000 additional IDPs registered, since apparently the registration for humanitarian relief aid had become a pull factor for IDPs to come to Ingushetia. By late February the number of registered IDPs had arrived at 213,821 instead of the originally registered 186,149 IDPs and DRC had to stop the registration. However, the latest upsurge of guerilla activities in Chechnya has led to an additional significant inflow of people fleeing from the war zone. In view of the fact and following the request of UNHCR, DRC resumed registration of newly arrived Chechnya IDPs in Ingushetia on 29 March. For convenience reasons, it was decided to open a registration point in three locations of Ingushetia: Nazran, Malgobek and Sleptsovskaya. An additional registration point is soon to be set up in Karabulak.

The deregistration mechanism is beginning to show results as well. The deregistration takes place at the 56 UNHCR/WFP/DRC distribution points throughout Ingushetia. When IDPs have not twice appeared at the bi-weekly distributions they are assumed to have returned and are deleted from the distribution lists and from the database. By late March the number of registered IDPs had therefore decreased slightly to a little more than 210,000 persons.

From 26 March to 4 April, DRC has registered 2,943 IDPs at the three registration points in Ingushetia. It is expected that the number of registered IDPs will increase more significantly, once it has become widely known that DRC has resumed registration, and especially when DRC will begin distribution in Karabulak with its concentration of newly arrived IDPs.

UNHCR/WFP/DRC Joint Program of Emergency Assistance

Earlier it was agreed that the Saudi Arabian Relief Committee (SARC) would be in charge of distribution of food items in the town and area of Karabulak (24,092 IDPs) and the UK based IR (Islamic Relief) is distributing food aid in the camps of Sputnik (7,967 IDPs) and Severny (4,511 IDPs). Consequently, these areas have not been covered by DRC/UNHCR/WFP. On 13 March it was agreed that IR for the future also will cover Nazran region (37,122 IDPs), excluding Nazran Municipal District. IR will utilise the food distribution points already set up by DRC.

However, the latest developments (see Inter-Agency Issues heading below) brought some changes to the geographical split of the territory of Ingushetia concerning the distribution of food items. Below is the up to date picture of the food aid distribution split up.

Nazran Municipal District includes Nazran City, Altievo, Gamurzievo, Barsuki, Plievo and Nasyr-Kort. Nazran Region includes Yandare, Kantyshevo, Dolakovo, Ali-Yurt, Surkhahi and Ekazhevo.

Based on the UNHCR/DRC registration of IDP and host families, the regions break down as follows:

Hence, the total amount of IDPs to be covered by UNHCR/WFP/EU/DRC is for the moment 162,695 persons. This figure might increase shortly due to an increased number of registered IDPs after the decision to resume registration of IDPs in Ingushetia. In addition to this, UNHCR/EU/DRC is providing around 70,000 members of host families with food.

DRC has started distribution in Malgobek region on 1 April and expects to be able to cover Karabulak by the coming week, pending food supplies.

DRC has rented a warehouse in Karabulak (600 m2) which also will serve as a major distribution point for IDPs in the camps of Karabulak. In addition, the present warehouse space in Nazran has been expanded from 2,500 m2 to 5,000 m2.

On 17 March an agreement was signed between the European Commission, the Federal Government of Russia, the Ingush Government and the Danish Refugee Council on distribution of 3.5 mio. cans of beef. DRC will distribute the cans along with the other food items provided by UNHCR and WFP during the coming three bi-weekly distribution cycles. The canned meat is already in Ingushetia and is currently being transferred to DRC warehouses. Each beneficiary will receive 4-6 cans per distribution. Moreover, DRC will distribute some 800 MT of rice delivered by the European Commission starting from the first week of April (pending delivery to Ingushetia).

Host Family Program

On 4 April, DRC has also started distribution of food commodities to some 70,000 members of Ingush host families throughout Ingushetia. The food will be distributed from the distribution points already established for the IDPs. Each host family will receive a standard food ration based on 5 persons per family. The food for the host families is provided by UNHCR. Canned beef provided by the EU is also included in the package.

Distribution up-date FOOD ITEMS

Based on the supplies provided by UNHCR, a total of 2061 MT of food items have been distributed by DRC from 23 December to 26 March in Ingushetia.

WFP food items have been distributed by DRC from 13 February to 26 March in the amount of 1763 MT.

The food rations cover the nutritional needs per individual (according to WFP standards) during a two week cycle.

Distribution up-date NON-FOOD ITEMS

Based on the supplies provided by UNHCR, the following number of non-food items were distributed by DRC from 23 December to 26 March in Ingushetia:

Inter-Agency Issues

On March 23, DRC Tom Trier, Lene Jensen, Zelim Yandarov, Stanislas Kokosyan, Kharon Deniev had a meeting with the Prime-Minister of Ingushetia, Mr. Malsagov and the Deputy Prime-Minister, Mr. Yusupov. During the meeting both DRC and the government officials informed about the current and future efforts aimed to facilitate solution of the immediate problems faced by IDPs in Ingushetia. DRC briefed the Government on the on-going distribution of winter clothing for the displaced of all age groups in Ingushetia, presented a general overview and prospective of the DRC/UNHCR/WFP parallel program comprised of logistical support and distribution of food/non-food items for Chechnya IDPs in Ingushetia. In the not too distant future DRC is planning to implement a rehabilitation project for some of the around 15,000 ethnic Ingush IDPs from Chechnya that have been displaced in Ingushetia and who plan to remain in this republic. Another group of great concern is the over 23,000 Ingush IDPs from the Prigorodny region of North Ossetia that were displaced during the 1992 Ossetian-Ingush conflict. DRC is now planning activities on job creation and a shelter projects in order to improve the living conditions for these groups of IDPs and create grounds for them to increase self-sufficiency. According to Mr. Malsagov, it has been long since his Government tried to raise the issue of assistance to the displaced people willing to reside in Ingushetia, especially the ethnic Ingushes from both Chechnya and Prigorodny Region, but they were afraid of addressing that problem to the Russian Government. The Ingush government representatives expressed great interest in the DRC plan to start the rehabilitation project in Ingushetia.

On 24/03 DRC Tom Trier and Zelim Yandarov took part in a regular co-ordination meeting organised by EMERCOM Ingushetia in Sleptsovskaya. The meeting was hosted by the EMERCOM Minister, Mr. Valeri Kuksa. DRC informed the present NGO representatives about its programs in Ingushetia. Mr. Kuksa brought to the notice of the meeting the possibility of a discontinuation of the Saudi Arabian Relief Committee’s (SARC) relief program in Ingushetia (SARC was responsible for covering the IDPs in the Karabulak area. A few days after the meeting it has been announced that SARC has not succeeded in obtaining official accreditation for operating in Ingushetia and that, therefore, all further operations must come to a halt).

On 25/03 DRC Tom Trier and Zelim Yandarov met with the Islamic Relief Ingushetia Co-ordinator, Mrs. Natasha Malsagova. The parties discussed the situation concerning food assistance in Ingushetia. IR informed on its ability and readiness to start regular distribution cycles in Nazran District. According to Mrs. Malsagova, the first distribution of IR’s food aid was due to begin in the last week of March. DRC and IR agreed to continue previously planned co-ordination efforts with regard to geographical split of the areas of concern to both parties.

From 27/03 to 28/03 a delegation of the European Commission in Russia, headed by the Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Russia Mr. Gilbert Dubois, visited Ingushetia. The mission came to the area to officially initiate distribution of the EU canned beef for Chechnya IDPs staying in Ingushetia, to make an assessment of the current situation with displacement in the republic and to address the results to the EU Headquarters Commission’s in Brussels. On 17 March an agreement had been signed between the European Commission, the Federal Government of Russia, the Ingush Government and the Danish Refugee Council on distribution of 3.5 mio. cans of beef and around 1,000 MT of rice. On 27/03 the guests accompanied by DRC Tom Trier, Maria Olsen, Brian Graham, Zelim Yandarov and Kharon Deniev had a meeting with the Ingush Prime Minister, Mr. Malsagov. During the meeting the Prime Minister briefed on the problems with regard to the IDPs living in Ingushetia. With the great majority of IDPs living with host families (HF), both IDPs and hosts now experience difficult conditions. There are plans of moving some of the IDPs currently staying with the HFs to newly set up camps both in Ingushetia and Chechnya. Mr. Malsagov asked for assistance for the Ingush HFs. The Ingush Prime Minister informed the mission on an attempt to indirectly force some IDPs from Chechnya staying in Ingushetia to return back. According to him, the local authorities received an order not to register the newly arrived IDPs from Chechnya. Mr. Malsagov assumed that such act aimed at increasing the departure of IDPs from Ingushetia to Chechnya. The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of DRC to start a rehabilitation program in Ingushetia, adding that there will not be a quick return of Chechnya IDPs and that the guerrilla activities in Chechnya continues to be a push factor for the Chechen population to flee from the republic. On 28/03 the delegation visited one of the DRC food distribution points located in the village of Alkhasti (south-eastern Ingushetia), had a talk with some of the IDPs present at the distribution asking about the needs and problems they face while being displaced in Ingushetia.

As a preparatory part for the future rehabilitation program, DRC has conducted an assessment of the situation in Ingushetia for elaboration of the DRC rehabilitation strategy in Ingushetia. For that, a group of the DRC North Caucasus Office Integration Department officers were on mission in the area of concern from March 23 until March 26. They had a series of meetings with the Ingush authorities, went to the field to assess the situation in IDP settlements and questioned the displaced living with host families. The plan of rehabilitation activities will be drafted shortly and the exact category of beneficiaries is going to be selected. DANIDA is expected to support this program shortly.

From 28/03 to 30/03 a mission of the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), represented by Paul Filler and Teuvo Maatta visited Ingushetia to assess the quality and level of performance of the relief agencies funded by ECHO. DRC hosted the delegation, informed on the current and future programs of DRC in Ingushetia and plans of relief activities in Chechnya. On 28/03 the ECHO representatives visited one of the DRC winter clothing distribution points. The ECHO representatives expressed appreciation on the efforts and achievements of DRC in the Ingush Republic. On 29/03 and 30/03 ECHO visited UNHCR Vladikavkaz Office and had series of meetings with the UN officers.

For over a month UNHCR FO Nazran has been hosting an NGO meeting for international and local agencies involved in emergency assistance to Chechnya IDPs in Ingushetia. The latest of these meetings took place on 30/03. At the meeting Jon Hoisaeter, UNHCR Protection Officer for North Caucasus, informed the participants about a new regular report on displacement in Ingushetia that is going to be produced weekly by UNHCR and will be available for general use. UNHCR briefed the meeting on current and future plans concerning implementation partnership agreements. Thus, a local NGO, Vesta, has been chosen to run a UNHCR sponsored Refuge Counselling Center and there are on-going negotiations with International Rescue Committee (IRC) for the latter to be a UNHCR partner for implementation of water and sanitation program in Ingushetia. DRC reported on the present situation regarding the distribution of UNHCR/WFP food items to Chechnya IDPs and UNHCR food supplies to the Ingush host families as well as on the issue of registration. Some NGO representatives, MSF Holland and ACF, shared their plans of action in Chechnya. DRC appreciates the efforts of UNHCR to establish a proper co-ordination of the NGOs’ relief activities at the field level. Undoubtedly it will give an input to a better quality of the united efforts to provide relief assistance in Ingushetia and Chechnya.

Stavropol, 4 April 2000.

For further information, please contact:

Country Program Manager Tom Trier 8652 - 94 39 66, mobile 8652 - 919 047
Inter-Agency Officer Zelim Yandarov (8) 901 - 498 08 24

DRC North Caucasus
Ul. Lenina 458/210
355 029 Stavropol
Russian Federation
Tel. +7 8652 94 39 97
Fax +7 8652 35 69 17