OCHA Humanitarian action in Chechnya and Neighbouring Republics (Russian Federation) 16-31 Aug 2003

I. HIGHLIGHTS
UN Starts Working on Relief Programmes for Chechnya and Neighbouring Republics in 2004

The United Nations in the Russian Federation started its work on the 2004 Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal (CAP) for Chechnya and Neighbouring Republic with a workshop hosted by the UN Office for the coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Russian Federation (OCHA) in Nazran, from 25-26 August. Representatives of federal and local authorities, donors, UN agencies, ICRC, and NGOs, participated in the event. The participants discussed CAP-related topics, such as the humanitarian context in the North Caucasus, scenarios for 2004, strategic goals, roles and responsibilities, and monitoring and evaluation. The emphasis will continue to be on humanitarian relief, but some action will be taken on recovery as well. This year, for the first time NGOs will appeal for funds through CAP.

UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie Visits North Caucasus

From 21-24 August 2003, Angelina Jolie, Goodwill Ambassador for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), conducted a mission to the Russian Federation, including a two-day visit to the North Caucasus, where she met IDPs from Chechnya in Ingushetia and refugees from Georgia in North Ossetia. Ms. Jolie visited IDPs in tent camps in Ingushetia, paying particular attention to their concern about the security situation in Chechnya. At a meeting with President of Ingushetia Murat Zyazikov she stressed the importance of availability of alternative shelter in Ingushetia to ensure that their return to Chechnya is voluntary. At a press conference in Moscow, Ms. Jolie called for all options to be kept open for those IDPs who do not yet wish to return to Chechnya. During the visit, the UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador also met the Prime Minister of North Ossetia-Alania, Mikhail Shatalov, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Yuri Fedotov.

II. HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

Protection

As of 31 August, about 80,000 internally displaced persons from Chechnya were registered for assistance in Ingushetia in the database of the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), a UNHCR implementing partner. Of this total, about 12,000 persons were registered in five tent camps, nearly 24,000 persons in temporary settlements, and over 43,000 persons in private accommodation. From 16-31 August, the Chechen Forced Migrant Committee reported the organised return to Chechnya of 503 persons. Of them, 261 persons de-registered in Ingushetia and registered for assistance in Chechnya. Vesta NGO, a UNHCR implementing partner that monitors population movement at two checkpoints on the administrative border between Chechnya and Ingushetia, reported individual returns of 49 persons from Ingushetia to Chechnya and the arrival of 137 persons from Chechnya to Ingushetia. On 22 August, unknown persons in masks conducted a security operation in a Sunzhensky raion hospital in Ingushetia, resulting in the detention of five persons, including two IDPs. In a letter to the Minister of Interior of Ingushetia, UNHCR sought assurance that those detained would be treated in full accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation. Vesta lawyers were following up with the Sunzhensky raion prosecutor's office on appeals submitted by relatives of the detained IDPs. UNHCR is also assisting families to seek access to detainees though the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Food

From 17 August-2 September, a Review and Formulation mission of the World Food Programme (WFP) visited the Russian Federation, including Chechnya and Ingushetia, aiming to assess current WFP programmes and to adjust the agency's activities for 2004-2005. The delegation met representatives of federal and local authorities, donors, and partner NGOs. In addition, it visited IDP camps, temporary settlements and beneficiaries living in a private center. During the on-going 7th distribution cycle, which started on 7 July, WFP provided 1,780 MTs of basic food commodities to over 79,000 IDPs in Ingushetia and more than 139,000 beneficiaries in Chechnya. The agency continued providing hot meals to children attending summer camps in 56 schools in Chechnya. In addition, 29 kindergartens in Grozny, Grozny Rural, Achkhoi-Martanovsky, and Sunzhensky raions continued serving meals cooked with WFP food rations. WFP will resume its school-feeding activities beginning of 1 September.

Shelter

On 28 August, the Chechen Migration Department, the Ingush Government, UNHCR, DRC, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and Médecins Sans Frontières-France (MSF-France) began a joint assessment of alternative shelter, initiated by UNHCR. The initial assessment was undertaken in temporary settlements in Suzhensky raion to identify rooms which could be upgraded to provide better shelter than canvas tents for those IDPs who do not yet wish to return to Chechnya. Similar assessments are planned for other districts of Ingushetia.

Health

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), together with the World Health Organization (WHO) and NGO partners, continued monitoring the measles situation in Chechnya and Ingushetia. According to the Ingush sanitary epidemiological service (SES), 45 new cases of measles were registered during the fist 20 days of August. In Chechnya, 56 cases were registered in July as compared to 280 cases in June. The National Cold Centre in Grozny received 23,800 doses of measles and parotitis vaccines, which prompted health care workers to resume vaccination activities in various parts of the republic. In addition, UNICEF, in close cooperation with the Chechen and Ingush ministries of health and NGOs, continued promoting the Mother Empowerment Programme and educating women on the benefits of breastfeeding, immunization, and basic practices for treating the most common child diseases.

Education

In all UNICEF-supported IDP schools in Ingushetia refurbishment of premises was being completed for the beginning of the new school year on 1 September. An inventory of available textbooks was conducted to compile lists of textbooks and visual aids to be supplied by UNICEF in the coming weeks. UNICEF procured and distributed about 630,000 pieces of stationary and school materials to cover the needs of over 15,000 school children enrolled in IDP schools and kindergartens in Ingushetia, as well as the most disadvantaged schools in Achkhoi-Martanovsky raion of Chechnya. Every child received 41 pieces of stationary, consisting of pens, pencils, exercise books, albums for drawing, etc.

Water and Sanitation

UNICEF, in partnership with the Polish Humanitarian Organisation (PHO), continued its water distribution and sanitation programme in Grozny. Due to the suspension of water supplies by Vodokanal (a state enterprise) to the main source in Chernorechye from 14-19 August, the average quantity of the distributed water decreased from 580 m3 to 321 m3. However, PHO water trucks managed to maintain regular deliveries to medical facilities in the city. After resumption of water delivery by Vodokanal, water production and distribution continued at their normal levels. The daily capacity of the garbage and sewage disposal system reached 46.5 m3 and 10.3 m3 respectively. The total number of sites covered by the project every week reached 49.

Mine Action*

Let's Save the Generation, a UNICEF implementing partner, conducted the second stage of the "Life on Safe Territory" children's festival in Chechnya with participation of about 170 children. The festival, which included presentation of mine risk education sketches, was organised in close cooperation with village and school administrations in two villages of Gudermessky and Urus-Martanovsky raions. UNICEF resumed its mine risk education drama project, shifting it from North Ossetia (where 11,000 IDP children had been covered) to Chechnya. About 400 residents of temporary accommodation centres (TACs) visited the Chechen State Drama Theatre to watch a new UNICEF-sponsored presentation. The UNICEF-supported football team of child mine survivors, "Laman Az" won third place in a youth tournament organised in Grozny by ICRC, Voice of the Mountains and Step to the Future NGOs. The event covered by the Chechen TV, is expected to encourage other disabled children to participate in sport and social activities, which will facilitate their integration into society.

* Mine action in this report refers to one or a combination of the following activities: mine awareness, victim assistance, and vocational training.

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