OCHA Situation Report
Chechnya and Neighbouring Republics
Report from February 2006
28 March 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

HIGHLIGHTS

DRC Programmes Resuming in Chechnya

As of 7 March 2006 the Danish Refugee Council resumed its operations in 
Chechnya after nearly a month-long suspension connected to the worldwide 
Prophet Mohammed cartoon controversy. On 7 February 2006 UN received a 
letter from the Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Chechen 
Republic, Mr. Vaikhanov, in which he recommended suspension of the 
Danish Refugee Council activities in the territory of Chechnya in the 
interest of staff safety. Meanwhile DRC continued working in North 
Ossetia and Ingushetia where the governments had not foreseen any 
problems for the Danish citizens.

New Chair of Water and Sanitation Working Group

IRC has recently advised that it is no longer in a position to chair the 
Water and Sanitation sector working group. Following meetings by the 
Water and Sanitation working group in Nazran and Humanitarian 
Coordination Group in Moscow, UNICEF has agreed to chair this working 
group in an ad interim capacity for the next three months. It was 
officially announced on 14 March in a letter to the international 
community by the Humanitarian Coordinator when he thanked IRC for the 
work it has done in assisting coordination in this important sector over 
the past several years. In three months time, the Water and Sanitation 
sector working group should agree upon a permanent arrangement for 
coordination of water and sanitation related projects.

Donor Missions to the North Caucasus

On 2 February OCHA facilitated ECHO mission lead by Mr. Jean-Claude 
Heyraud, EC Humanitarian Aide Department Director for Eastern Europe, 
during which MDM medical points in Nozhay-Yurt district and HELP project 
on green housing were visited.

Another joint UNHCR and ECHO mission took place on 7 February. The 
mission members met with the government officials. The parties discussed 
the return of IDPs from Ingushetia to Chechnya. The Chechen IDP 
Committee confirmed the intention of the Chechen government to 
facilitate the return process in mid-2006, for which necessary reception 
conditions were not in place. The Chechen authorities agreed to include 
UNHCR in the planning process in order to ensure that protection 
principles were observed. During the mission were visited DRC, LCC, CRC 
QIP project sites and returnees from Georgia's TACs in Grozny.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights visit to the Russian federation

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour visited the 
Russian Federation from 19 to 25 February. During her visit Ms. Arbour 
travelled to Ingushetia, the Chechnya and North Ossetia and had meetings 
with the leaders and senior government officials of all three republics. 
The High Commissioner also met with the President Putin, Foreign 
Minister Lavrov, the President's special representative for the southern 
federal district Mr. Kozak, Ombudsman Lukin, as well as the President's 
advisor on human rights, Ms. Ella Pamfilova. During the meetings the 
human rights situation in Russia, including Chechnya and the Northern 
Caucasus was discussed.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

Protection

As of 28 February 2006, a total of 25,598 internally displaced persons 
(IDPs) from Chechnya (5,822 families) were registered for assistance in 
Ingushetia in the database of UNHCR's implementing partner, the Danish 
Refugee Council (DRC). Of this total, 9,518 persons (2,103 families) 
were in temporary settlements, and 16,080 persons (3,719 families) in 
private accommodation. From 1-28 February, Vesta, who monitors the Adler 
and Spartak checkpoints, reported individual returns of 77 persons (18 
families) from Ingushetia to Chechnya and new arrivals of 32 persons (5 
families) from Chechnya to Ingushetia. During February, 102 persons (20 
families) were de-registered by DRC in Ingushetia and registered for 
assistance in Chechnya.

As the main reasons motivating their choice, returning IDPs mentioned 
the intention to rehabilitate their homes and occasional job 
opportunities in Chechnya as well as the worsening of the security 
situation in Ingushetia. Several incidents were reported having 
repercussions on the physical security of IDPs in Ingushetia, 
particularly in the temporary settlements. While arrests of undocumented 
IDPs were reported, all the cases known to UNHCR ended with the release 
of the IDPs after administrative sanctions.

During February, the 11 UNHCR-supported legal counselling centers (LCCs) 
in Chechnya and Ingushetia provided 500 consultations to IDPs and other 
citizens. So far in 2006, most of the cases in Ingushetia have concerned 
alleged wrongful actions of the local migration authorities (63%) or of 
law enforcement bodies on issues related to documentation (23%). In 
Chechnya, most cases have involved documentation and registration (45%); 
disputes over social, administrative and family relations (20%); 
compensation processes (10%); and housing and land ownership issues 
(9%). Some 15% of consultations in Chechnya and 10% in Ingushetia relate 
to criminal cases such as abductions, and instances of arbitrary 
detention continue to be followed up with the Prosecutors' Offices, 
local courts and - if necessary - the European Court for Human Rights.

Food

In February there was no general relief distribution in Chechnya and 
Ingushetia due to lack of food commodities and a break in the pipeline. 
The monitoring of the situation conducted in both republics showed that 
most of the families are suffering without the food aid. They either 
borrow money or reduce food intake. Many IDPs approach WFP sub-office in 
Nazran requesting to resume the relief distribution. The Food for 
Education programme was implemented in 401 schools in Chechnya to 
provide only high energy biscuits to 135,000 schoolchildren. Hot meals 
were not served due to lack of food commodities and children received 
only 25 gr of biscuits per day.

In February WFP through its cooperating partner CPHC distributed about 
15 tons of food commodities to 210 Food For Work (FFW) participants for 
the works implemented in November and to 183 FFW participants for the 
works implemented in December. No FFW projects were undertaken in 
February due to the current shortage of food. Within the IMC/WFP food 
for training project 45 trainees from the vulnerable IDP families 
continued vocational courses in Chechnya (15 persons) and Ingushetia (30 
persons). They will receive food upon completion of the courses. WFP 
also provided the Dining Hall project implemented by Caritas Czech 
Republic which assists about 1,600 vulnerable people in Grozny, with 
about 13 tons of food commodities. WFP jointly with the local government 
and Caritas are preparing for setting up within this project 4 new 
canteens in all districts of Grozny City with the same number of 
beneficiaries. WFP also supported the TB project by providing about 10 
tons of food to 337 TB patients in Ingushetia and about 12 tons of food 
to 349 TB patients in Chechnya. WFP has appealed for urgently needed 
funds to resume basic food distribution for thousands of people in 
Chechnya and Ingushetia. Three months ago, a lack of funding forced WFP 
to stop general relief distribution to the poorest and most vulnerable 
people in the region. WFP has received only 12 percent of the US$22 
million needed for its ongoing twelve-month operation which is currently 
experiencing considerable shortages of basic food items, such as wheat 
flour, oil, oats, millet and salt.

Shelter

During February, UNHCR provided 14 box-tents to IDP families voluntarily 
returning to Chechnya and 7 to IDP families choosing to remain in 
Ingushetia. Another 3 were provided for an MSF-Holland medical point and 
a Caritas kindergarten in Ingushetia, and 2 for partners in Chechnya. 
This brought total distributions to families since the beginning of the 
program to 1,145 box-tents in Chechnya and 619 in Ingushetia.  Another 
32 box-tents have been provided to partners in Chechnya, Ingushetia and 
North Ossetia for temporary schools, child rehabilitation centers, 
medical points and other facilities.

Following its 2005 shelter activities in cooperation with DRC for 910 
roofing kits in Chechnya, 40 permanent houses in Ingushetia and 19 
permanent houses in North Ossetia, UNHCR started to assess potential 
beneficiaries for its 2006 shelter activities for IDPs from Chechnya and 
Prigorodny who intend to integrate in Ingushetia. Some 26 houses are 
currently planned, but it is hoped that this number can be increased 
significantly with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and 
Cooperation (SDC). Similar plans in cooperation with SDC are underway 
for 2006 permanent shelter activities to provide durable solutions for 
refugees and forced migrants integrating in North Ossetia.

Health

>From January 30 - February 3 WHO carried out a training course on
breastfeeding and newborn care for 20 health workers in the Republic of 
North Ossetia, facilitated by specialists from the Russian Institute of 
Pediatry and Children Surgery.

On February 13 and 28 WHO had missions to Grozny where it visited the 
Ministry of Health of Chechnya, Republican AIDS centre, maternity 
hospital N2, TAC (Koltsova), city polyclinic N1, medical college, 
Republican 1 clinical hospital, Republican children hospital and several 
other locations.

On February 26-March 2 WHO organized two training courses, each for 20 
state health workers (obstetricians and gynecologists) on essential 
obstetric care in North Ossetia.

In connection with the epizooty of bird flue on the territory of the 
Southern Federal okrug, WHO kept the health sector organizations 
informed and constantly updated on the situation and activities, 
undertaken by the authorities; established contacts with all relevant 
and responsible state authorities for avian flu pandemic, including the 
Ministries of Health and Agriculture, the Federal Surveillance Agency, 
Emercom in the Republics of Chechnya, Ingushetia, North Ossetia and 
Kabardino-Balkaria and disseminated the latest updates provided by the 
federal agencies and preparedness and response plan drafted for each of 
NC Republics.

The results of the survey conducted by UNICEF at the end of 2005 in 280 
vaccination points in Chechnya is helping to better assess the current 
status of the cold chain infrastructure as well as other important gaps 
and problems in EPI. As a follow-up, UNICEF, in close cooperation with 
the Chechen MoH, has developed a set of recommendations on how to 
improve and strengthen the existing cold chain infrastructure in the 
republic and maintain an effective management of child immunization. In 
parallel, UNICEF, in cooperation with the MoHs of Chechnya and 
Ingushetia, designed a poster and a notebook carrying relevant messages 
on EPI, with the aim of increasing the population's awareness on the 
benefits and importance of child immunization.

Education

Some 1,510 IDP students from Chechnya are currently enrolled in 12 
'parallel' schools located in spontaneous settlements in Ingushetia. On 
28 February, UNICEF chaired a sector coordination meeting where the 
representatives of three departments of education in Ingushetia and 
other implementing partners agreed that there are no formal obstacles 
for the integration into the mainstream education system of the IDP 
children attending UNICEF-supported schools. There are still some 
matters of concern - such as the limited capacity of the regular schools 
in Ingushetia, the teaching of Chechen language and the distance between 
the settlement and the schools -, but participants agreed that the 
sector should address them and move forward in this direction. All 
parties also agreed that a MoU would be prepared and signed, together 
with the Ingush MoE, to set the basic principles of the forthcoming 
integration process.

UNICEF and Caritas Internationalis continued to support four Children 
Centers catering for 590 IDP children in Ingushetia. Children were 
provided with daily meals, medical care and education. The premises have 
been refurbished after the winter season, with the active involvement of 
the children's parents. Teachers and nurses attended a monthly training 
organized by Caritas. The gradual integration of these centres into the 
local pre-school education system is also being discussed.

A total of 120 young people continued to attend the Vocational training 
courses in carpentry and tailoring organized by UNICEF, with financial 
support from ECHO, in two villages in Chechnya. During 6-month training 
cycle, the students will obtain professional skills enabling them 
produce marketable items as well as improve their knowledge of Russian 
language. The course venues have been fully equipped (with tools, 
furniture and materials) by UNICEF.

In February UNICEF distributed Peace and Tolerance Education (PTE) 
materials (notebooks for teachers and children, poster, pens and 
banners) to the MoEs of Chechnya, Dagestan, North Ossetia and 
Ingushetia, as well as to NGO partners. The NGO "Caucasian rainbow" 
joined the UNICEF PTE programme to implement the Mobile Trainer's Groups 
(MTG) project in North Ossetia. Since the beginning of the year, UNICEF 
adjusted its MTGs working scheme, which aims at conducting the 
sensitization, on a monthly basis, of over 1,600 children/adolescents, 
20 teachers and several psychologists - as well as at preparing some 30 
children/trainers - in 4 republics in the region.

Water and Sanitation

In Ingushetia, the IRC continued to provide water and sanitation 
services to the war-affected community. 3371m3 of water were delivered 
to 62 spontaneous settlements, 3 points in the private sector and 2 
public institutions using 6 UNHCR water trucks and 2 rental water 
trucks. 1331m3 of garbage were removed from 99 spontaneous settlements 
and 7 public institutions using 6 UNHCR garbage trucks. 1833m3 of sewage 
were removed from 99 spontaneous settlements. 20 water samples were 
taken from water tanks. 2 water points were maintained. The works on 
water tanks cleaning and treatment were conducted. 3 baths were 
maintained (repairing of boilers, water taps replacing and concrete 
works in one bath).

The IRC also continued to deliver water and sanitation services to the 
war-affected population of Chechnya. 6832m3 of water were delivered to 
107 water points in Grozny using 8 rental water trucks. 25% of all water 
storage tanks were checked daily. 25 water tests were conducted by 
Sanitary Epidemiological Center specialists from IRC water trucks, water 
points and from the water tanks and bladders. 12 water tanks with the 
total volume 120m3 were disinfected by Groznensky Disinfection Station 
specialists. Pest control was conducted in 6 hospitals in Oktyabrskiy 
region of Grozny.

Mine Action

UNICEF, in partnership with Voice of the Mountains (VoM), continued to 
further implement its community-based mine risk education activities in 
those districts of Chechnya where the mine/UXO risk for the civilian 
population is high. The ongoing projects are targeting both the adult 
and child population. During the reporting period, some 3,800 
schoolchildren from Gudermesskiy, Urus-Martanovskiy and 
Achkhoy-Martanovskiy districts of Chechnya benefited from interactive 
presentations on the danger of mines/explosive remnants of war and 
acquired knowledge on safe behavior techniques.

Aimed at building capacity of people directly working with children, MRE 
trainings have been organized for 30 schoolteachers from Grozny and for 
managers from the 23 leisure centers that were established by UNICEF. 
Each leisure center gives an opportunity of enjoying a safe playing and 
learning environment to some forty children every day. The centers are 
equipped with computers, different table games, sport equipment and 
music instruments.

Within its Mine/UXO survivor assistance programme, UNICEF continued to 
provide affected children with prosthetic and orthopedic appliances at 
the Grozny Prosthetic Workshop. Some 12 children started the treatment 
at the beginning of February; seven of them complemented it with 
sessions at the Psychosocial Rehabilitation Centre, which is supported 
by UNICEF through Let's Save the Generation. Children and their primary 
caregivers receive psychosocial support through group and individual 
counseling, music, dance, and drawing therapies. In addition, the 
UNICEF-supported treatment provided by the Republican Clinical Hospital 
in Grozny is also aimed at promoting the physical rehabilitation of 
children with disabilities. A mobile group of doctors from the hospital 
also provides consultations to children who are receiving treatment at 
different district hospitals and ensures the quality of the treatment 
received. The professional capacity of the RCH's staff has been 
strengthened by UNICEF over the last two years, through the promotion of 
several training opportunities in surgery, physiotherapy and orthopedic 
treatments at well-known institutions in St. Petersburg and Moscow.

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

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International              web: www.cidi.org
    Disaster Information          listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
                                guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -