CHUKOTKA, KAMCHATKA AND 26 August 1999 MAGADAN (FAR NORTH-EASTERN RUSSIA): CRITICALLY ISOLATED COMMUNITIES appeal no. 05/99; 5 Month programme extension until October 15, 1999 situation report no. 5 period covered: 20 July - 25 August 1999 The Russian Far Northeast programme, launched on 8 February to assist 82,000 beneficiaries in the rural regions of Chukotka, Kamchatka, including Koryak okrug and Magadan, is in the final stages of implementation. The intended quantity of family food parcels was produced in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Magadan, and distribution is ongoing in all four regions covered by the Appeal. Hygiene kits have also been procured for all the regions and have already been sent to Magadan for distribution. Adverse weather conditions are making air transport difficult and causing logistical constraints. The context The steady erosion of living standards and rise in unemployment associated with a decade of diffi- cult market transition and poor harvests in Russia has taken a high toll in terms of living conditions and brought with it economic inequality and heightened social instability which has been particu- larly devastating for the population of the Far North-eastern remote regions of Chukotka, Kamchatka, including Koryak okrug, and Magadan. Geographic isolation (air transport and dog sleds are the only ways to reach some remote polar areas for many months of the year) combbined with a harsh climate (with temperatures reaching -50 C during long winter months and +40 C in summer), poor infrastructure, a lack of economic diver- sity, the high cost of transport, the over-dependance on imports, and the loss of subsidies have all compounded the regions’ problems. Due to the lack of funds for transportation of regular winter supplies (primarily food, fuel, and medicines) - normally delivered by the Northern shipping route during ice-free months - a full complement of supplies is no longer sent. Tuberculosis, venereal diseases, infant mortality and anaemia among nursing mothers are increasing while hospitals are short of medicines and medical equipment. Maintaining adequate hygiene condi- tions is also difficult with melted ice often the only source of drinking water. Sewage systems are poor, and become easily blocked during the winter, resulting in raw sewage freezing into the perma- frost, thereby compounding health and sanitation problems. The region is also afflicted with serious environmental issues as a result of by-products released from nuclear and chemical stations. To respond to the situation, the Russian Red Cross (RRC) and the Federation established the following objectives: w to alleviate the impact of cold, malnutrition, diseases, stress, and lack of medical care to 82,000 indigenous people (multi-child families, single parents, former prisoners, pensioners, orphans, invalids); w to maximise the use of available local resources (human, goods, and services); w to strengthen local capacities by providing infrastructure support; w to promote partnership between Participating National Societies and the RRC. The Federation is also carrying out two other relief operations in conjunction with this programme: w The WEA programme, launched on 30 September 1998, to assist 1,631,500 beneficiaries - multi- child families, orphans, pensioners, handicapped and homeless - in Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine and Russian Federation is almost over. The cash coverage of the programme has reached only some 60%; but despite the constraints encountered it managed to fulfil its objectives and provide assis- tance in the form of food parcels, soup kitchens, winter shoes and clothes to those in need. w The TB/HIV/AIDS/STDs programme was launched on 12 March in response to the extent of these diseases in Russia, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus. Latest Events Russia continues to experience political uncertainty with the recent firing of Sergei Stepashin, Russia's fourth Prime-Minister in 17 months, and it is feared that this may impact the the Far East of the country, damaging the agreements Moscow had pieced together with local officials to provide fuel and provisions. The timing of this decision is critical as the outlying regions must restock supplies during the short summer season, before the sea freezes (typically in October), and it is now expected that a month will pass before the Finance Ministry will begin payments for the delivery of fuel and food. The firing of Stepashin particularly aggravated local officials who had flown from around the region to Vladivostok to meet with him during a 30 July visit to Vladivostok, and the resulting delay could prove dangerous for areas such as Magadan, which relied on relief agencies' assistance last winter because the federal government failed to fund its traditional "northern delivery" programme to provide foodstuffs. Red Cross/Red Crescent action A full complement of 47,500 family food parcels (FFPs) was produced in Petropavlovsk- Kamchatsky, and distributed among the vulnerable people of Kamchatka and Koryak okrug. Each food parcel consists of 2 kgs of wheat flour, 1 kg of sugar, 2 kgs of macaroni, 1 litre of vegetable oil, 2 cans of meat, 2 cans of condensed milk, 1 kg of semolina, and 0.5 kg of tea. Initial distribution reports from the regions contain the following information: Table 1. Distribution in Kamchatka region Kamchatka region May June July TOTAL bene fami FFP benefi familie FFPs benefi famili FFPs benefi familie FFPs ficiar lies s ciaries s ciaries es ciaries s ies Petropavlovsk 120 120 120 17,430 15,670 17,430 50 50 290 17,600 15,840 17,840 Viluchinsk 2,079 1,461 2,900 911 759 90 2, 90 2,220 2,990 Aleutsky district 250 145 250 250 145 250 Bystrinsky district 692 433 800 108 89 800 522 800 Elizovsky district 200 157 200 3,405 2,442 6,200 3,530 2,815 750 7,135 5,414 7,150 Milovsky district 795 500 2,000 1,205 1,015 2,000 1,515 2,000 Sobolevsky district 495 329 1,000 495 329 1,000 Ust-Bolsheretsky district 1,900 1,649 1,900 1,900 1,649 1,900 Ust-Kamchatsky district 600 2,224 1,879 2,900 2, 224 1,879 3,500 Red Cross Committee 10 10 10 10 10 10 TOTAL 320 277 320 26,551 22,300 32,080 8,533 6,946 5,040 35,404 29,523 37,440 Table 2. Distribution in Koryak Autonomous Okrug Koryak AO July TOTAL beneficiaries families FFPS beneficiaries families FFPS Karaginsky district 0 0 0 Olutorsky district 1,065 972 2,830 1,064 972 2,830 Penzhinsky district 960 858 960 960 858 960 Tygylsky district 2,261 1, 427 3,240 2,261 1,427 3,240 TOTAL 4,286 3,257 7,030 4,286 3,257 7,030 The full compliment of 33,500 FFPs was produced in Magadan and distribution has started. An initial report received from the region indicates that 18,905 food parcels were distributed among the vulnerable population of Magadan, Olsky, Omsukchansky, Severo-Evenksky, Srednekamsky, Susumansky, Ten'kinsky, Khasunsky and Yagodinsky districts. Some 6,464 similar food parcels were produced in Chukotka, and 4,969 of them were already distributed to the indigenous people of the region; 1,500 FFPs are ready for distribution by helicop- ters, which is being delayed due to poor weather conditions. Monitoring will be carried out by RAIPON, the indigenous people's organisation. On 13 August 8,800 hygiene kits (five containers) complete with full of Johnson & Johnson health care company donation, household soap and candles were transferred to Magadan for further distri- bution in the region. Each hygienic kit contains: 2 bars (200g) of baby soap, 2 tubes (200g) of baby cream, 300 ml of baby oil, 1 pack of baby wipes, 2 packs of sticking plasters, 1 tube (100 ml) of hand cream, 2 bottles (500g) of shampoo, 1 hygienic lipstick, 1 pack of sanitary towels, a tooth brush, 5 bars (1 kg) of household soap and 10 candles. Authorisation was received for 160 medical kits for Chukotka. Each medical kit will consist of 38 kinds of medicines and 34 items of care materials. Other regions - in terms of medical supplies - will be covered by the Netherlands Red Cross. Outstanding needs The relief component of the programme has been fully met, and the appeal is over 86% covered. Most of the food parcels have been produced and hygiene kits procured, and distribution has started in all region. A meeting will be held on 1 September in Moscow regarding all relief programmes with the participation of the RRC/Federation staff to discuss a framework for a new Appeal. Please refer to the Appeal document for further full details. External relations - Government/UN/NGOs/Media Close co-operation between the RRC, the Federation, the local Red Cross committees and authorities is continuing with regular meetings, as well as phone and fax contacts. Contributions See Annex 1 for details. For more information please contact Michael Schulz, Desk Officer; tel: + 41 22 730 4320, e-mail: [email protected] Conclusion The coming winter will present new hardships for the people of Russia’s rural northern regions. Another poor harvest and the severe living conditions are particularly devastating for the vulnerable groups subsisting without social support and care. The Red Cross/Red Crescent is one of the few humanitarian organisations capable of and committed to providing basic assistance in this area of Russia, and these people consider the Red Cross their only source of future support. Peter Rees-Gildea Renny Nancholas Director Director Operations Funding and Europe Department Reporting Department.