Poul Nielson pays visit to Russia and North Caucasus to assess the humanitarian situation in the region
The European Commissioner for Development
Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, Mr Poul Nielson, visited the Russian
Federation from 5-8 February. He had several meetings with the federal
and regional authorities and visited camps and settlements of 'Internally
Displaced People' (IDP). The main purpose of the visit was to assess the
humanitarian situation of those IDP fleeing the conflict in Chechnya to
neighbouring Ingushetia, for whom ECHO (the European Commission Humanitarian
Office) has made available funding of euro 7.4 million which will be channelled
via the UNHCR, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and several
non-governmental organisations. Mr Nielson praised the role being played
by the humanitarian agencies in this crisis in helping to alleviate the
plight of the IDP. Mr Nielson called on the Russian and Ingush authorities
to provide the necessary guarantees, particularly concerning security,
allowing the humanitarian agencies to carry out their role according to
their normal standards and working conditions. In this context, Mr Nielson
stressed the importance of ensuring free access for humanitarian workers
to civilians in need in the whole region. Mr Nielson expressed concern
over the question of reports of forced repatriation of IDP to Chechnya
by the authorities.