OCHA Situation Report
Chechnya and Neighbouring Republics
Report for January 2005
21 February 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

HIGHLIGHTS

Transition Assistance Calls for New Activity Sectors

The UN and NGOs in their 2006 Inter-Agency Transitional Workplan for the 
North Caucasus have established two new sectors of activity that should 
support the recovery process in the North Caucasus. In January a new 
sector working group was established to ensure coordination within the 
newly established Peace and Tolerance sector. The first sectoral meeting 
was facilitated by the NGO Nonviolence International and was aimed at 
determining the main goals and identifying implementation mechanisms. 
Representatives of a number of NGOs active in Chechnya, Ingushetia, 
North Ossetia and Kabardino-Balkaria took part in the meeting. Such 
meetings will be held monthly in different republics of the North 
Caucasus. The sector is currently led by UNICEF in close cooperation 
with Nonviolence International.

Donor Missions to the North Caucasus

US Embassy and USAID representatives carried out a UN-facilitated 
mission to the North Caucasus from January 23 to 27 and discussed their 
possible engagement in the assistance to North Ossetia-Alania and 
Kabardino-Balkaria with the authorities of these republics.

On 31 January, a joint UNIEF, ECHO an PHO (Polish Humanitarian 
Organization) delegation conducted a mission to Grozny, during which a 
meeting was held with key government officials (including the Chechen 
Deputy Prime Minister/Social Affairs, the Advisor to the President on 
Humanitarian Issues, the Chairman of the IDP Committee, the Deputy 
Minister for Communal and Housing Services as well as the Head of 
Grozvodokanal) to discuss the current situation and possible future 
developments in the water & sanitation sector. In particular, an 
agreement was reached on the principle of a progressive hand-over to the 
local authorities of the management of the water-trucking project in 
Grozny, which has been implemented by UNICEF and PHO (with financial 
support from ECHO) since 2000. Participants agreed on the need to 
establish a working group that would look carefully into the issue and 
elaborate a detailed plan for the implementation of such hand-over. The 
delegation also visited water distribution points located at school No. 
41, hospital No. 3 and at the Republican Children's Hospital in Grozny.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

Protection

As of 31 January 2006, a total of 25,913 internally displaced persons 
(IDPs) from Chechnya (5,898 families) were registered for assistance in 
Ingushetia in the database of UNHCR's implementing partner, the Danish 
Refugee Council (DRC). Of this total, 9,826 persons (2,170 families) 
were in temporary settlements, and 16,087 persons (3,728 families) in 
private accommodation.  From 1-31 January, Vesta, who monitors the Adler 
and Spartak checkpoints, reported individual returns of 93 persons (21 
families) from Ingushetia to Chechnya and new arrivals of 16 persons (4 
families) from Chechnya to Ingushetia.  During January, 74 persons (17 
families) were de-registered by DRC in Ingushetia and registered for 
assistance in Chechnya.

Returning IDPs mentioned increasing rents in Ingushetia or the intention 
to rehabilitate their shelter in Chechnya as the main factors motivating 
their choice to return.  Those arriving in Ingushetia, in some cases for 
the second time, often cited difficulties in finding means to sustain 
their residence in Chechnya.

Through the protection staff of its national implementing partner, 
Vesta, UNHCR monitored the situation of the 52 families/125 persons who 
returned to Chechnya from Georgia through the government-sponsored 
repatriation process at the end of December 2005. The majority of this 
group is still residing in the temporary accommodation centers supported 
by the migration service in the Grozny area. UNHCR obtained the support 
of WFP to provide food assistance for these returnees.

Although the authorities of Ingushetia fulfilled their commitment not to 
close the temporary settlements hosting IDPs from Chechnya, and no 
evictions were reported in January, only a few of the contracts with the 
owners have been formally extended, and these for only up to six months.

During January, the 11 legal counseling centers (LCCs) run by UNHCR 
partners in Chechnya and Ingushetia provided 415 consultations to IDPs 
and other citizens on various subjects ranging from documentation, 
housing issues, property disputes, compensation and social allowances, 
disputes on the alleged wrongful actions of the migration services, and 
criminal cases including abductions and disappearances.  Of these, 117 
cases were subsequently addressed to the law enforcement and 
administrative structures.  Instances were primarily submitted to the 
migration services in the respective republics, largely to challenge the 
exclusion of beneficiaries from the assistance lists or evictions from 
temporary accommodations in Chechnya. The LCCs presented a similar 
variety of cases to courts of first and second instance in the two 
republics, with 196 writs prepared during the month and 44 decisions 
received on current and previous months' applications, 37 of which were 
positive.

Food

In January, there was no general relief distribution either in Chechnya 
or Ingushetia due to lack of food commodities and a break in the 
pipeline. The Food for Education programme was implemented in 409 
schools in Chechnya to provide daily hot lunches to 132,713 
schoolchildren. From 16 to 21 January some 222,630 tons of food 
commodities were delivered by WFP cooperating partners to district 
centres in Chechnya to be distributed to the schools covered by the 
programme. In addition WFP provided 46 gas stoves (procured with the 
money collected by TNT staff) to schools in 3 northern districts of 
Chechnya recently included into the programme.

About half of 17 Food For Work projects involving 320 participants were 
suspended in the last third of January due to the harsh weather 
conditions which made impossible implementation of road and water 
pipeline repairs. In the middle of January, 15 new students were 
enrolled into the hairdressing/beautician course organized by IMC to 
replace those who had completed the course in early January. 15 more 
trainees continued accounting courses within the Food for Training 
Programme (FFT). WFP's food commodities intended for the works 
implemented within FFW and FFT projects in December will be distributed 
in early February by CHA, CPHC, Open Continent and IMC. No FFW projects 
are planned for the month of February due to lack of food in WFP's 
warehouses. In December WFP as usual provided the Dining Hall project 
which assists about 1,600 vulnerable people in Grozny, with 13 tons of 
food commodities. 668 in- and out patients covered by TB project in 
Ingushetia and Chechnya received about 23 tons of WFP food aid which, as 
MSF-Holland confirm, is a good incentive for outpatients to return for 
treatment.

WFP has appealed for urgently needed funds to resume food rations for 
thousands of people in Chechnya and Ingushetia now suffering from 
bitterly cold winter weather. Two months ago, a lack of funding forced 
WFP to stop general relief distribution to the poorest and most 
vulnerable people in the region. Pledges of further assistance have 
still not materialized; WFP has only received 12 percent of the US$22 
million needed for its current, one-year operation which is currently 
experiencing considerable shortages of basic necessities like wheat 
flour, oil, oats, millet and salt.

Shelter

During January, UNHCR provided 6 box-tents to IDP families voluntarily 
returning to Chechnya and 8 to families choosing to remain in 
Ingushetia. Of these, 3 were provided to IDPs from Prigorodny in 
Ingushetia and 1 to a local family there whose home was destroyed by 
fire.  This brought the total distributions to families since the 
beginning of the program to 1,131 in Chechnya and 612 in Ingushetia. 
Another 27 box-tents have been provided to partners in Chechnya, 
Ingushetia and North Ossetia for temporary schools, child rehabilitation 
centers, medical points and other facilities.

The final quick impact projects (QIPs) supported by UNHCR in 2005 were 
successfully handed over to the beneficiaries, targeted families or 
communities in January.  The total number of 2005 QIPs, which were 
focused on income-generation, family resilience, and repair of 
small-scale public infrastructure to support sustainable (re-) 
integration, was 55 in Chechnya, 22 in Ingushetia and 11 in North 
Ossetia.  Also nearing completion were the following self-help shelter 
activities supported by UNHCR in 2005:  910 roofing kits in Chechnya, 40 
permanent houses in Ingushetia, and 19 permanent houses in North 
Ossetia.

In Chechnya International Rescue Committee (IRC) continued 
rehabilitation works on 100 houses of 2nd category.  The distribution of 
materials was continuing. The works were conducted in Oktyabrsky 
district, Grozny.

The distribution of materials for rehabilitation of 95 houses of 3rd 
category was finished. The construction works in 80 houses were 
finished. 20 of them were rehabilitated by IRC workers. 50 families 
occupied their houses.

Health

Within its Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI), which is aimed at 
increasing the coverage and quality of the immunization services for 
children in Chechnya and Ingushetia, UNICEF procured 152,350 disposable 
syringes (1 ml.) for distribution to pediatric and mother and child 
health facilities.

UNICEF continued to monitor the general epidemiologic situation in 
Chechnya and Ingushetia, including with regard to the threat of Avian 
Influenza. According to the latest data provided by the MoH of the 
Republic of Ingushetia, a plan of prophylactic action (based on the 
instructions issued by the Federal MoH), has been prepared and is being 
implemented.

UNICEF continued to implement its Mother Empowerment Programme (MEP) 
aimed at raising mothers' awareness on various topics related to 
breastfeeding, immunization and the early recognition of common 
childhood illnesses. During the reporting period, two Hammer Forum (HF) 
training teams targeted 420 pregnant women, lactating mothers and 
mothers with under-5 children living Temporary Accommodation Centres 
(TACs) in Grozny. In Ingushetia, 290 additional women were targeted 
through similar activities in IDP spontaneous settlements. UNICEF is 
also targeting beneficiaries in the Achkhoi-Martan district of Chechnya 
and in the Sunzha district of Ingushetia, in partnership with the 
Achkhoi-Martan Central District Hospital and the Republican Centre for 
Disease Prevention respectively.

In Grozny, the IRC conducted psychosocial counseling in closed and open 
group sessions to 127 and 97 children, respectively. Individual 
counseling was provided to 28 of the most vulnerable children, 22 
parents and 18 teachers. In Ingushetia, the IRC also provided counseling 
in closed and open groups for 134 and 111 children, respectively. 14 
children, 18 parents and 10 teachers attended individual counseling.

Education

On 25 January 2006, UNICEF Education team met officials from the Chechen 
Ministry of Education (MoE) in Grozny and further discussed existing 
requirements and plans. The MoE, in particular, emphasized the following 
most critical areas: the lack of updated Chechen textbooks; the 
insufficient number of pre-school education facilities; the need for 
methodological training for teachers outside the republic. UNICEF will 
take these elements into account for the further fine-tuning of its 
plans for 2006.

After the New Year's holidays, classes resumed in the 12 'parallel' 
schools for IDP children that are managed by UNICEF in Ingushetia, in 
partnership with CPCD, IRC and. Some 1,557 IDP students from Chechnya 
are currently enrolled in these schools. One small school in 
Sleptsovskaya was closed by IRC at the end of December, following the 
steady decrease in the number of students (the remaining pupils were 
accommodated in other 'parallel' schools located in or near the same 
settlement). UNICEF and implementing partners resumed consultations with 
the Ingush MoE on the future of these IDP schools and their eventual 
integration into the mainstream schooling system. In parallel, UNICEF 
and UNHCR are planning to undertake a joint monitoring exercise in each 
IDP settlement, so as to re-assess the likelihood of IDP families 
returning to Chechnya.

in January 2006 UNICEF, in cooperation with three Chechen NGOs, opened 
14 new ECE centres in districts where the presence of formal 
kindergartens is insufficient: Naurski, Shelkovskoi, Shalinski and 
Gudermesski. Therefore, in total UNICEF continues to manage a total of 
25 ECE centres in Chechnya, catering for 1,250 children aged 5-6. 
Following an agreement reached by UNICEF with the Chechen MoE, salaries 
for all 25 teachers employed in the centres are to be paid by the MoE 
itself, while WFP will contribute to the project through the provision 
of hot meals.

In the Republic of Ingushetia there is a total of 839 children in 9 IRC 
schools, 650 children attended physical training classes at Sports 
Center. Additionally, 380 children and youth from all IRC schools in 
Ingushetia were taught dancing, drama and vocal at three Art studios and 
Sports Center. In total, 216 people attended the Community Committee 
Meetings in all the schools. Youth meetings were held at schools, in 
which 238 students participated. 179 children of preschool age 
participated in playgroups at psychosocial centers in Ingushetia 4 days 
a week. Training on the topic of "Safe Motherhood" was conducted for 8 
trainers. 65 youth representatives continued attending classes of 
out-of-school program. Parents' meetings were conducted with the parents 
and students of out-of-school program, in which 50 people participated. 
Training on the topic of "Tolerance" was held for 60 students of the 
program.

Water and Sanitation

Within the framework of the water purification and distribution project, 
which is implemented by UNICEF in Grozny in cooperation with the Polish 
Humanitarian Organization (PHO), Safe drinking water continued to be 
distributed to hospitals, schools, kindergartens and private users in 
Grozny, for a total of 117,000 beneficiaries. The average water 
production and distribution capacity reached 815.5 cu/m per day in 
January 2006. Water was delivered through 20 trucks to 272 distribution 
points located in four districts of Grozny.

In Ingushetia, the IRC continued to provide water and sanitation 
services to the war-affected community. 3391m3 of water were delivered 
to 62 spontaneous settlements, 3 points in the private sector and 2 
public institutions, in Ingushetia using 6 UNHCR water trucks and 2 
rental water trucks. 1811m3 of garbage were removed from 99 spontaneous 
settlements, 7 public institutions, in Ingushetia using 6 UNHCR garbage 
trucks. 1032m3 of sewage were removed from 99 spontaneous settlements. 
20 water samples were taken from water tanks.

Water line at one settlement was maintained. 2 water points were 
maintained. 1 bath was maintained (exchanging water taps). Also 
installation of locks on the metal water tanks was conducted. In total 
10 locks were installed.

The IRC also continued to deliver water and sanitation services to the 
war-affected population of Chechnya. 7412m3 of water were delivered to 
107 water points in Grozny using 8 rental water trucks.

Mine Action

On 26 January 2006, the monthly Mine Action coordination meeting was 
chaired by UNICEF, with the participation of government partners, ICRC, 
OCHA, Voice of the Mountains, Let's Save the Generation, the State 
Chechen Drama Theatre, the Republican Clinical Hospital, Grozny 
Prosthetic Workshop and others. The meeting was devoted to discussing 
the key outcomes of the mine action activities conducted in 2005 and the 
sector priorities for 2006. UNICEF briefed the meeting on an upcoming 
workshop on data analysis (using the EpiInfo System), which will be 
delivered by the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in 
February.

On 25 January, a UNICEF team attended a regional meeting organized by 
the GICHD (Geneva International Center for the Humanitarian De-mining) 
in Istanbul. The meeting was devoted to the presentation of a new 
version (4.0) of the IMSMA (Information Management System for Mine 
Action) database and to the discussion of future training opportunities 
for field staff. Three people identified by UNICEF will be shortly 
trained at the GICHD facilities, with financial support from the Swiss 
Government.

The State Chechen Drama Theatre and Let's Save the Generation organized 
MRE drama presentations for children and adults from Nozhay-jurtovskiy 
and Groznenskiy districts of Chechnya. During the reporting period 
UNICEF contributed to promoting safer behaviors among some 7,200 
children and adults.

Funding of the Humanitarian Operation

>From the date of the last Information Bulletin until the date of this
Bulletin no donor contributions towards the on-going humanitarian 
operation were recorded in the Financial Tracking System (FTS).

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.

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(OCHA) Tel: (7095) 956-6405; Fax: (7095) 956-6355; e-mail: 
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2006

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