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Russia

Islamic Relief Chechnya Update No. 7


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.