Russian Federation
Chechnya
Report for February 2005
15 March 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

HIGHLIGHTS

NGO Community in the North Caucasus Concerned Over Arbitrary Inspections 
Representatives of NGOs present at the Humanitarian Forum held in Moscow 
on February 18 expressed their concern over arbitrary inspection visits 
by various government authorities including the fire department, labor 
inspectorate, telecommunications inspectorate, traffic police, etc. to 
their offices in Chechnya, Ingushetia and North Ossetia. NGOs urged the 
UN (OCHA) to seek legal advice on the legality of requests for 
information on their staff members. OCHA will closely monitor the 
situation and follow up with the NGO community on possible joint steps 
in the future.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

Protection

As of 28 February 2005, a total of 33,659 internally displaced persons 
(IDPs) from Chechnya (7,517 families) were registered for assistance in 
Ingushetia in the database of UNHCR s implementing partner, the Danish 
Refugee Council (DRC). Of this total, 12,059 persons (2,607 families) 
were in temporary settlements, and 21,600 persons (4,910 families) in 
private accommodation. From 1-28 February, the Chechen Forced Migrants 
Committee reported the organized return of 152 persons (24 families). 
In addition, Vesta, who monitors the Adler and Spartak checkpoints, 
reported individual returns of 176 persons (40 families) from Ingushetia 
to Chechnya and new arrivals of 14 persons (2 families) from Chechnya to 
Ingushetia.

During February, 248 persons (50 families) were de-registered by DRC in 
Ingushetia and registered for assistance in Chechnya. The Federal 
Migration Service, through the Ingushetia Migration and Passport and 
Visa Services, initiated a broad identification check on IDPs from 
Chechnya living in Ingushetia.  The previous republic-wide checks that 
took place last month did not exclusively focus on IDPs.  UNHCR 
Protection staff is closely monitoring the operation and will refer 
cases claiming unfair de-registration to its legal counseling partners. 
During February, no reports were received regarding unlawful detentions 
of IDPs. The Chechnya Ministry of Interior has yet to respond to UNHCR's 
recent letter concerning the detention of a returned IDP.

On 24 February the European Court of Human Rights ruled in favor of six 
Chechen citizens who filed complaints against the Russian government.

Food

By the end of February, in the framework of relief distribution, WFP 
together with partners completed the 2nd cycle and delivered about 382 
tons of food commodities to 32,760 IDPs in Ingushetia through DRC and IR 
and some 1,228 tons - to 105,240 beneficiaries in Grozny city, Grozny 
Rural, Achkhoy-Martan and Sunzha districts of Chechnya through DRC, IR 
and PIN. The school feeding programme (SF) in Chechnya currently assists 
over 112,000 schoolchildren in pre- and primary (1 to 6 grade), as well 
boarding schools in 9 districts of the republic through DRC, Caritas 
Internationalis, CPCD, HWA, IR, Open Continent, PIN and WVRF. The SF was 
continued in Ingushetia together with Caritas Internationalis to assist 
about 1,670 pre- school and school children with daily hot meals 
deliveries to each IDP school in Sleptsovsk, Troitskaya, Karabulak, 
Nesterovskaya and Nazran. A total of 2,550 participants (representing 
12,750 beneficiaries) were involved in the implementation of the food 
for work projects aimed at infrastructure rehabilitation in Chechnya 
through PIN, CPHC and Open Continent. In total some 277 tons for 
WFP-supplied commodities were provided to FFW participants in February.

WFP jointly with IMC continued the food for training (FFT) programme, 
where some 70 students graduated from vocational trainings. WFP released 
some 13 tons of food commodities to support the Dining Hall project 
implemented by Caritas Internationalis where daily hot meals are 
provided to 1,600 most vulnerable people in Grozny city. The TB 
programme in Ingushetia and Chechnya was continued by providing food to 
about 600 in- and outpatients as incentive for finalizing their 
treatment; some 10 tons of food commodities were released by WFP to 
MSF-Holland and WHO implementing this project in Chechnya and Ingushetia 
respectively.

Shelter

During February, UNHCR provided 4 box-tents to IDP families voluntarily 
returning to Chechnya, bringing the total since the beginning of the 
program to 913 units for Chechnya.  Another 9 box-tents were provided to 
IDP families choosing to remain in Ingushetia, bringing the total there 
to 424. In 2004, in cooperation with the Danish Refugee Council, UNHCR 
provided 20 IDP families who chose to integrate in Ingushetia with 
building materials to construct permanent houses on a self-help basis. 
Eight families constructed their houses on land plots in the integration 
site Berd Yurt, while the other 12 completed their homes in other 
communities. UNHCR hopes to double the size of this programme in 2005, 
for which assessments are currently underway.

In ten temporary settlements in Ingushetia, the International Rescue 
Committee (IRC) carried out maintenance works including graveling, 
repair of walls, flooring, painting, roofing, and improving access to 
gas and electricity, while in Chechnya, the NGO continued rehabilitation 
of category 2 and category 3 houses in the Oktyabriskii district of 
Grozny and in the village of Alkhazurovo. Currently, building materials 
are being distributed to beneficiaries, and rehabilitation work is 
ongoing on 18 houses in Alkazurovo and 115 houses in Grozny.

Health

IRC remained active in providing psychosocial counselling to pregnant 
women, children, parents and teachers both in Chechnya and Ingushetia. 
The NGO continued its efforts to decrease the prevalence of and 
subsequent morbidity from anaemia among school children in both 
republics. In five IRC-supported schools 80 young people participated in 
an IRC-organized youth forum about HIV/AIDS prevention.  Additionally, 
the IRC completed the fourth edition of the monthly psychosocial 
newsletter, "Sintem" for distribution to 180 parents and 43 teachers in 
Ingushetia.

In February WHO conducted two missions to Chechnya and assessed in 
Urus-Martan district the central district hospital, the district 
hospital in Alkhan-Yurt village, the ambulatory in Alhazurovo and the 
FAP in Michurino village. An expert from the Moscow Research Institute 
of Psychiatry facilitated from 21-26 February training on hyperactivity 
and aggression for 25 Chechen and Ingush psychologists in Nazran. WHO 
supported the one-week refresher course of a Chechen psychotherapist at 
the Moscow Research Institute of Psychiatry. The agency donated medical 
consumables and educational/awareness literature and videotapes to the 
Ministries of Health of Ingushetia and Chechnya and to the Ingush 
Republican skin venereal dispensary. An assessment survey of 19 Chechen 
hospitals with update on status of the health facilities, main 
constraints and availability of medical equipment was completed and 
distributed to health sector partners. Results showed that the provision 
of staff, equipment and drugs and the physical condition of nineteen 
hospitals improved compared to 2002 but was still far from adequate.

A one-day seminar focused on drug usage prevention among young people 
was initiated and organized in Malgobek (Ingushetia) by CPCD's Women's 
Rehabilitation Centre; UNICEF contributed to this initiative through the 
provision of training opportunities to several staff members, in 
cooperation with the local administration. The seminar's agenda included 
various presentations on relevant topics by representatives from CPCD 
and local health and social services providers; they were followed by 
discussions and the distribution of pamphlets. About 300 senior 
schoolchildren and teachers from Malgobek schools No. 1, 3 and 7 
actively participated in the event.

Education

On 25 February, UNICEF, jointly with the Swiss Development Agency, 
conducted a monitoring mission to Chechnya, with a specific focus on 
Kurchaloi district, where UNICEF recently established - in partnership 
with the local NGO 'Open Continent'- 5 Early Childhood Education (ECE) 
centers for 250 vulnerable young children. The objective of the mission 
was to visit 4 of these centers to study their compliance with the terms 
of the contract, interview parents and meet local authorities and 
communities. During these meetings, issues related to the shortage of 
pre-school education facilities in the region, the need for the 
rehabilitation of schools and for teacher training were discussed. The 
local administration informed UNICEF about the government's plan to 
build one new school for some 600 students in Kurchaloi, and requested 
support for a few small schools located in 13 villages, which are in 
need of urgent refurbishment and repair. In addition to these 5 Centres, 
UNICEF continues to provide education and care to other 750 vulnerable 
young children attending 15 ECE centers established and run by local 
communities and NGOs (such as Open Continent, Berkat and Denal) in 
Grozny, Groznenski, Achkhoi-Martanovski, Shalinski and Kurchaloski 
districts of Chechnya. UNICEF continues to support 590 displaced young 
children attending four kindergartens (run by Caritas) in Ingushetia.

The number of IDP children attending classes in 28 'parallel' schools - 
managed by UNICEF has steadily decreased from 2,604 in January to 2,530 
in February. With the approaching of spring, additional IDP families are 
likely to return to Chechnya. Therefore, UNICEF and its implementing 
partners are actively discussing programme policies and strategies for 
the future of these IDP schools, which have been supported by the 
humanitarian community for over 5 years. UNICEF and IRC, for example, 
have agreed to start the hand-over process of 13 schools to a local NGO, 
whose capacity has been built by IRC, so as to ensure the sustainability 
and ownership of the programme.

UNICEF's implementing partner Serlo has continued to implement a 
vocational training course for 120 young people in Grozny and in 
Achkhoi-Martan. In the context of this programme, Serlo also facilitates 
the social re-integration of these vulnerable youth and adolescents 
through the provision of recreational, informative and psychosocial 
activities.

IRC's informal psychosocial activity, along with 30 local volunteers 
from sports clubs, organized sports competitions in football, 
basketball, volleyball, chess and checkers in 10 schools in Chechnya; 
600 students participated in these competitions and 448 attended them. 
On average, 3 youth clubs were active in each school and approximately 
720 children attended them. In 10 IRC-sponsored schools large events 
were held dedicated to the Day of Friendship and Smiles, Remembrance 
Day, as well as sport activities conducted in all the classes from 
grades 1 through 11. Teachers and parents helped children organize these 
activities, in which 3,918 students participated; there were 3,609 
children who attended.

The IRC also conducted vocational training in dressmaking in Grozny for 
10 youth through the Republican Business Center and through 
collaboration with IRC sub-grantee Vesta, the IRC graduated 65 youth 
from training courses on construction and English language, accounting 
and tailoring. In the Republic of Ingushetia, the IRC continues to 
support 13 settlement schools, serving a total of 1,133 students. During 
February, 1,125 of these children took part in physical development 
classes at the Sports Center.  297 of the total IRC-supported school 
population were trained in dance, drama and vocals. The IRC also 
supported 251 preschool age children, who participated in play groups in 
psychosocial centers.  In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, 
11 teachers were trained on the topic of "methodology of teaching 
pre-school age children."  Youth meetings were held in each of the 
schools and topics of meetings were determined by the age of the youth 
in each meeting.  Students in grades 9-11 met to discuss the topic of 
"choosing a future profession" and students in grades 5-6 met to discuss 
the topic of student self-government.

Water and Sanitation

In Ingushetia, the IRC continued to provide water and sanitation 
services to the war-affected community.  In sum, 4,144m3 of water was 
delivered to 59 temporary settlements and 49 points in the private 
housing sector; 3,754 m3 of garbage was removed from 105 temporary 
settlements and 15 points in the private housing sector; and 1,367 m3 of 
sewage was removed from 112 temporary settlements and 5 points in the 
private housing sector.  An additional water tank and two garbage 
containers were installed.

The IRC also continued to deliver water and sanitation services to the 
war-affected population of Chechnya.  A total of 5,069 m3 of water was 
delivered to 104 water points and 1,380m3 of garbage was collected in 
Grozny.  25% of all water storage tanks were checked daily and 25 water 
tests of samples from IRC water trucks, water points and from the water 
tanks and bladders were conducted.

In the framework of this project, implemented by UNICEF through the 
Polish Humanitarian Organization (PHO) the total water delivery capacity 
was further increased to 620 cubic metres per day, following the 
installation of 15 new water bladders of 1.5, 5 and 10 cubic metres and 
the involvement of 20 trucks carrying water from 5 purification units. 
About 100,000 beneficiaries were regularly served in 33 health care 
facilities, 60 educational facilities and 164 points located in TACs and 
other residential areas. The State Sanitary Epidemiological Station 
(SES) regularly monitored the water quality and conducted 90 tests 
during the reporting period.

In the context of its hygiene and sanitation education programme, UNICEF 
in partnership with the SES, launched a series of training sessions for 
IDPs residing in TACs in Grozny. In February, 40 sessions, targeting 
more than 800 children and adults, were conducted by SES specialists in 
TACs located in Malgobekskaya and Tverskaya Streets.

Mine Action

According to the information provided by the Government of Chechnya, in 
March 2005 two teams (consisting of robot-technicians and sappers) are 
due to arrive in Grozny to start the clearance of selected agricultural 
areas, as well as of the territory of Grozny's Chemical Plant. The 
decision, which marks the beginning of humanitarian mine/UXO clearing in 
Chechnya, has been taken as a result of an agreement between the Prime 
Minister of Chechnya and the head of the Federal Ministry of Emergencies 
(EMERCOM). The urgent need to launch a serious process of humanitarian 
mine/UXO clearance in Chechnya has been repeatedly stressed by UNICEF, 
including in the course of various meetings held with local authorities 
over the last few months.

UNICEF's partner 'Let's Save the Generation' (LSG), in a joint effort 
with the Chechen State Drama Theatre, organised MRE presentations for 
380 children and adults residing in Grozny and in village of Orekhovo 
(Achkhoy-Martanovskiy district) in Chechnya.

In an effort to promote further transfer of its prosthetics-orthotic 
project from Vladikavkaz (North Ossetia) to Grozny (Chechnya), UNICEF 
held a number of meetings with the Grozny Prosthetic Workshop. It was 
decided to trigger a one-month pilot project with the objective of 
providing at least 15 below - and above-knee prosthetic devices to child 
survivors. In the framework of a project for the provision of 
psychosocial assistance to mine/UXO-affected children and young people 
as well as their caregivers, LSG has conducted an assessment aimed at 
identifying the number of mine/UXO affected children and young people 
currently residing in Grozny. As of 24 February 2005, 119 children and 
young people affected by mines/UXO were registered as currently residing 
in Grozny. Some 40 of them had limb amputations, 64 had shrapnel wounds 
and 15 were affected by cerebral traumas and burns.

Funding of the Humanitarian Operation

According to the information recorded in the Financial Tracking System 
(FTS) donors made the following contributions as at the end of February 
2005:

Readers requiring more detailed information on funding of the 
humanitarian operation in the North Caucasus are encouraged to visit the 
FTS using the following link: 
http://ocha.unog.ch/fts/reports/reportlist.asp?section=CE&record_ID=656. 
FTS is an on-line, real-time, searchable database of humanitarian needs 
and contributions and an instrument for analysis of humanitarian aid 
flows.

Produced by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 
(OCHA) Tel: (7095) 956-6405; Fax: (7095) 956-6355; e-mail: 
rezanov@un.org

Please send your contributions for the next bulletin to OCHA by 5 April 
2005.

For more information, please contact us directly or refer to: 
www.ocha.ru or www.reliefweb.int

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