1. The Present Crisis
- The Ingush government has estimated that there are nearly 300,000 Chechen refugees within its borders. This figure includes unregistered refugees.
- People continue to cross from Chechnya to Ingushetia but there is also a movement back to Russian-controlled parts of Chechnya
- There are approximately 35,000 to 40,000 refugees still left in Grozny
- ‘Caucasus-1’ is the sole checkpoint allowing passage between the two territories, it is described as ‘a slender and crowded humanitarian corridor to escape the conflict’
- Refugees live outside in railway wagons and tented camps. The railway wagons are overcrowded and there is no heating.
- Two children who had a cold in November died from a lack of basic medicine and treatment.
2. Islamic Relief Plans
2.1 Programme activities so far:
This weeks activities:
A further 34 tonnes of food has been purchased. Thus bringing the total value of food purchased to date to $33,667.
Another 2590 food packets have been distributed to the three following refugee camps ‘Sputnik’, ‘Severnii’ and ‘Karabulak’.
2.2 Distribution so far:
- 89 tonnes of food has been purchased so far, valued at nearly $34,000.
- The food has been divided into individual food packets. 2590 food packets are to be distributed each week
- Food packets consist of: Flour, Sugar, Vegetable oil, Macaroni, Tea, Beans, Salt.
- Non-food item: Candles & matches
- 15 water tanks have been purchased and another 15 have been ordered. Each has a 3 tonne capacity.
- We are in the process of ordering other equipment such as the 4 mobile clinics, food distribution trucks and water carriers
- We have secured the services of medical staff for the mobile clinics
- We have staff in place at our offices in Nalchik and Nazran
- We are in the process of compiling an expatriate team who should be in place by late-December where upon full implementation of the CRRP 1 will begin.