Azerbaijan - OCHA: 01-31.Aug.98
Azerbaijan - OCHA: 01-31.Aug.98
Azerbaijan Humanitarian Situation Report
UN-OCHA
August 1998
GENERAL SITUATION
Elections
Preparations are under way for the Presidential Elections on October 11.
Six candidates have registered. General opinion is that most of these
candidates are pro-government with one middle-of-the-road candidate (the
only one that could effectively be called opposition.) There is a strong
likelihood that President Heydar Aliev will return to office.
Meanwhile, journalists are undergoing training, an independent organisation
has been registered with 1,000 observers and a seminar was held in
educating the public on democratic elections and affirmations to establish
political clubs to improve public awareness and culture.
Various parties opposed to the government have boycotted the elections
including the National Front Party which is led by former president Abulfaz
Elchibey. These unregistered opposition members were planning a rally in
Baku city centre although they have been prohibited to do so because of the
Silk Route summit from September 1-10. They are now planning a rally on
September 12.
A political rally in the centre of Baku on August 15 by parties opposed to
the president resulted in many detentions. Azerbaijan Democratic Party
general secretary Sardar Jalaloglu and another ADP party member were
detained from August 19-20. They were accused of subversive acts.
Jalaloglu has also been charged with slander and could face five years in
prison if convicted. His brother, Gurban Mammadov was recently sentenced to
five years for deliberately spreading false information relating to state
crime. (His appeal was rejected). Local newspapers reported that there were
between 1,000 to 2,000 people detained for several hours.
SECURITY
On August 25, from 10.15 to 11am, divisions of Armenian Armed forces were
believed to have opened fire at the Azeri Armed Forces on the Koroglu
mountain of the Murovdag ridge. The Armenian forces were believed to be at
their positions on the occupied Agdag top. A press release from the
Ministry of Defence said the firing stopped after Azerbaijan forces
retaliated. No casualties were reported.
An extraordinary meeting of Defence Ministers will be held in Astrakhan on
September 4 to discuss the situation in Tajikistan, North Caucasus,
Transcaucasia. The meeting will also discuss the funding of military
structures of CIS states and the settlement of Abkhazian and Upper Karabakh
conflicts.
POLITICAL
Thirty OSCE observers started arriving in Baku from 10 September for the
presidential elections on October 11. According to a news agency, the
speaker of the national parliament (Milli Mejlis) has asked more than 40
countries and international organisations to send observers.
Public actions, street rallies, picketing and any other political gathering
were banned in Baku between September 1-10. The mayor of Baku said in his
official response to three of the presidential candidates (including former
president Abulfaz Elchibay) that the prohibition was because of the Silk
Route Summit. The candidates had applied to hold a political rally on
September 5 at -Azadlig- square, the main public square in Baku where the
government house (housing ministries and state committee) is located but
were refused.
The International summit, aimed at restoring the ancient Silk Route, was
held on 6 and 7 September. The summit which is expected to improve the
socio-economic development and multilateral relations of the countries
located along the route from Europe-Caucasus and Asia, is funded by EU
under the TRACECA programme. The Foundation for the Silk Route was
established in Turkey recently. The countries involved are, Bulgaria,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kirgistan, Moldovia, Mongolia, Poland, Romania,
Turkey, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and the EU countries.
The Soviet form of media censorship was lifted in early August. The
official Department for Protection of State Secrets in Press (MDPSSP),
known to journalists as -Glavlit-which was set up during the Soviet era and
operated in all Soviet states, was responsible for clearing and censoring
the mass media. It was abolished following a presidential order which also
contained provisions for financial, technical and other assistance to mass
media. The order also abolished the 1992 order on military censorship and
the 1993 resolution on control over all information as well as exempting
the media from VAT. The protection of state secrets in the media will now
come under the law -On state secrets.-
President Aliyev met with the Head of Russia's Parliamentarian Commission
for International Affairs Vladimir Lukin between August 10-15 to discuss
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. President Aliyev reiterated Azerbaijan's
concern with the delivery of Russian arms to Armenia and termed it as
-negative case impeding the development of bilateral relations.-
The six presidential candidates and their authorised representatives cast
lots at the Central Electoral Commission on August 27 to decide on the
order of allotment on TV and radio for campaigning. The candidates have
been given six hours free of charge and six payable hours on air while
their candidates have been given three of each. Campaigning on air began on
September 1.
Azerbaijan and Moscow are repairing disrupted ties through greater
economic, technical and cultural cooperation. Moscow has allocated USD
200,000 for Russian school textbooks in Azerbaijan and has opened Azeri
language and history courses in Moscow as well as providing scholarships.
Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy, previously operating out of Azerbaijan
Hotel, officially opened its new office and residential complex on August
23.
GENERAL HUMANITARIAN ISSUES
The National Programme on the refugees and IDPs problems, which envisages
resolution of the issues related to legal aspects, social security,
repatriation process, employment and housing among others was drawn up by
the State Commission established according to the Presidential Decree and
chaired by the Prime Minister. A draft of the programme which has been
approved by the State Commission, is under consideration and approval of
the President of the Azerbaijan Republic.
The trial is continuing of six people charged with selling children abroad.
A husband and wife, who were employed by the Ministry of National
Security, and their four accomplices were believed to have bought
newly-born children for USD 500-USD 800 and sold them in Israel. The group
was alleged to have bought children rejected by their mothers and had the
help of doctors and other employees from hospitals in Baku and four other
areas in the north.
IRC distributed a field report entitled -Women Displaced in the Southern
Caucasus: An Examination of Humanitarian Assistance Needs in Azerbaijan,
Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Georgia- prepared by the Women's Commission
for Refugee Women and Children's April 1998 fact-finding delegation. The
report outlines the delegation's recommendations to improve the situation
of women and their families in Azerbaijan, since more than 850,000
displaced people are in great need of adequate shelter, potable water and
basic health care. Aid agencies and donors were strongly encouraged to
support and implement programmes in Azerbaijan and it was also recommended
that the following steps be taken by relevant governments, USAID, UNOCHA,
UNHCR, and the World Bank to ensure that programmes serving especially
vulnerable women and children are a top priority.
Post-Earthquake Situation
An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale occurred near the
Iranian-Azeri border on 9 July and struck the southern districts of the
country. OCHA, as part of the United Nations Disaster Management Team
(UNDMT), facilitated the coordination of international response to the
post-earthquake rehabilitation in the affected districts by organising
bi-weekly Earthquake Coordination Meetings and issuing weekly Special
Information Bulletins for several weeks.
In response to the international appeal launched by the Government, the
external contributions amounting to about USD 692,000 were made available
by UN Agencies, donors and private sector representatives for
reconstruction and rehabilitation works. This includes half-a million ECUS
(about USD US 545,000 from ECHO, USD US50,000 from UNDP, USD US20,000 from
UNOCHA), Chevron Oil Company USD 25,000, five other oil companies and a
bank gave a total of USD 15,500. UNICEF has given educational kits worth
about USD 5000 and has earmarked USD 15,000 for further school projects.
The government has allocated five billion manats (about USD 1.3 million).
Rehabilitation work is continuing. People have started building themselves
with additional help soon available in the form of construction material
and help being provided by UNDP, UNOCHA, material and engineering help from
IFRC and temporary shelter from Oxfam.
During the summer months there was no need of additional clothing or
medical assistance but the situation will be monitored as winter descends.
One medical NGO has agreed to carry out further assessments during the
winter months. On UNDMT request UNHCR donated 1830 quilts to IFRC for
distribution.
SECTORS
Demining
UNDP and the Norwegian Government contributed a total of USD 183,000 (USD
50,000 and USD 133,000 respectively) for preparatory assistance in
assessing the mine problem in the formerly occupied district of Fizuli.
Consultant Colonel Alan Beaver was overseeing the Level One Survey and
developed an action plan to provide the Government of Azerbaijan (GoAz)
with an institutional capacity to manage the mine clearance action in the
country.
Major aspects of the mine clearance management are: 1) creation of a
national demining agency, 2) mine awareness programme (in conjunction with
ICRC), 3) mine information gathering (through conducting of Level One
Survey and series of technical surveys), 4) mine clearance activities in
support of the reconstruction project, and 5) training of NGOs and
respective government structures. A project document has been signed with
the Government on the establishment of an Azerbaijan National Demining
Agency (ANDA).
IDP
The World Bank approved a USD 20 million equivalent credit to assist in
repatriation of IDPs, in particular, i) voluntary resettlement of IDPs, ii)
reconstruction and repair of housing, iii) income generation, iv)
rehabilitation of health and education facilities, v) reconstruction of
infrastructure and power supply, and vi) institutional support to manage
repatriation of IDPs, mine clearance efforts, and reconstruction of areas
affected by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Rehabilitation and Reconstruction
ARRA (Agency for Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of the Liberated Areas)
circulated a letter with a request to provide assistance to those IDPs who
had moved to the Fizuli area.
WVI has signed an agreement with UNDP and the Government of Azerbaijan to
begin organising and staffing the micro-enterprise programme in Horadiz
which would focus on both micro and small businesses for existing residents
and returning IDPs.
Income generation
WVI disbursed 162 loans amounting to a total of USD 90,000. It was planned
to disburse loans in the amount of USD one million during the month of
August.
DRC supported 29 small grant projects and selected seven new
income-generation projects covering different professional fields for
support in July.
Relief International, under UNOCAL Oil Company funding, opened 35 new
business establishments.
Shelter and Public Building Rehabilitation (PBR)
MCI, under Pennzoil funding, commenced construction of the TB children's
hospital, and under UNHCR funding, started rehabilitation of its 6th
building in the Khatai region of Baku.
OCHA, with the funds provided by the British government and RAMCO Oil
Company and staff salary by UNDP, is coordinating and assisting the
government in building a 25-bed hospital in the Gobustan region. The new
hospital to replace the old one which was totally destroyed in the
earthquake last year, is targeted for completion by mid-November.
Health
UNICEF distributed USD 40,000 of essential drugs and medical equipment in
supporting and launching the Primary health Care reform in Neftchala.
MSF-H conducted an EPI services workshop which was attended by health
officials from eight districts and focused on strengthening the services
offered by the state health facilities. An EPI Manual, once it is
formulated for training of health workers in the country, will be available
for NGOs.
MDM-Greece signed agreements with the Azerbaijan Medical University, Patras
University (Greece) and Ministry of Health on the strategy of the IDD
Programme in Azerbaijan.
MCI started conducting monthly working group meetings aimed to discuss
issues related to health and nutrition, and share information that could
be beneficial for all agencies implementing health programmes.
IRC conducted health training for women's groups and nurses in the
Agjabedi, Beylagan, Imishli, Sabirabad, Fizuli and Agdam districts, as well
as training for trainers (health workers and volunteers) on health
education, reproductive health, nutrition, family planning and other
issues.
Food
WFP received 269 MTs of vegetable oil under the USA pledge and 600 MTs of
wheat under an in kind donation from France. This is the first donation
from the Government of France to WFP operations in Azerbaijan. The existing
programmes with traditional partners (WVI, UNICEF, BIF and Insan) were
going on smoothly. WFP continued direct food distribution to some 6,700
beneficiaries in the 10 southern districts. It was agreed that during the
next four months WFP would be distributing only half-rations, since a food
shortage might be caused by a delay in receiving new donor pledges.
IFRC continued implementation of their supplementary feeding programme for
the 34,000 IDPs settled in the Southern Camps and to 28,000 socially
vulnerable categories (elderly living alone). Two contracts were signed
(with ECHO and USAID respectively) to cover the requirements of their
beneficiaries for another one-year period.
World Vision International (WVI) distributed some 1,600 MTs of various WFP
supplied food commodities to 100,000 beneficiaries residing in the 14
central and 17 north-western districts. A comprehensive summary on the
survey for household food security and nutrition was provided by the WVI
Nutritionist. Funded by USAID and conducted in February-March 1998 among
WFP/WVI food aid recipients in the 19 districts selected for an interview,
the survey aimed to identify the level of household vulnerability among
food aid recipients and whether general distribution was still required.
The survey showed that the highest vulnerability level was observed in the
Barda, Oguz, and Ujar districts.
Counterpart International continued the implementation of their food aid
project for 4,000 children in the 40 sanatoriums and boarding schools in
the four districts of the country.
This report is available on the internet through RELIEFWEB:
http://www.reliefweb.int
United Nations Office in Baku, Azerbaijan
Mr. Ercan Murat, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator
Tel.: (0099412) 93 83 26 or 92 24 91
Fax: (0099412) 98 32 35
Complex Emergency Response / Consolidated Appeal Process (CER/CAP) - Geneva
Mr. Ernest Chipman - Chief
Mr. Arjun Katoch
Tel.: (41 22) 788.1402
Fax: (41 22) 788.6386
Registry E-Mail: Annette.Choquet@dha.unicc.org
Complex Emergency Division (CED) - New York
Mr. David McLachlan-Karr
Tel.: (1 212) 963.0226
Fax: (1 212) 963.1388
E-Mail: mclachlan-karr@un.org
Information Service
Ms. Therese GASTAUT Director
Tel.: (41 22) 917.2300
Fax: (41 22) 917.0030
E-Mail: tgastaut@unog.ch
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