Mission Statement

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a non -governmental humanitarian organization established in 195 6. DRC is an umbrella organization for 30 member organizations with programs in 17 different countries working for durable solutions for forced migrants. In the Russian Federation DRC has been operating since 1997.

GOAL Protection and promotion of durable solutions to refugee and displacement problems in the North Caucasus, on the basis of humanitar ian principles and human rights

Objecti ve 1 Objective 2 Objective 3 Assist conflict affected populations in Promote those in the process of return Assist the displaced in the North the North Caucasus to meet their or integration in the North Caucasus Caucasus who are unable or unwilling relief needs to establish sustainable livelihoods to return to achieve a basic level of based on their own capacities and dignity in their lives resour ces General Overview

DRC runs a large humanitarian assistance program in the Northern Caucasus in partnership with United Nations (UNHCR, WFP, FAO, UNDP) , the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) and the governments of Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands , Sweden and Ireland . DRC is carrying out activities in food -aid, registration, mine risk educ ation and physical and socio -economic rehabilitation sectors in , Ingushetia, Dagestan and North Ossetia. Furthermore, DRC facilitates the development of the “Caucasus NGO Networking Initiative”. Numbers and Characteristics of the Target Group

As of December 3 0, 2005, there were 26,155 IDPs ( 5,951 households) from Chechnya’s 2 nd conflict , displaced in Ingushetia. The number of IDPs decreased by 728 persons (compared to 26,883 IDPs in November 2005). The majority of the IDPs in Ingushetia ( 3,717 ho useholds) live in the private sector, while 2, 234 households reside in temporary settlements. 201 IDPs registered their return to Chechnya (40 households) – 115 people from temporary settlements and 86 from the private sector . The vulnerable strata of IDP s in Ingushetia, according to standard UNHCR vulnerability criteria , constitute 3, 111 individuals, including pregnant and lactating women, children under 3 years old, the disabled, elderly people without adequate social support, orphans and children from s ingle -parent families . IDPs in Ingushetia (DRC statistics as of December 30, 2005): <=1999 - <=1987 - Gender >1999 <=1944 Total % >1987 >1944 Female 1,353 3,603 8,230 1,099 14,285 54.6% Male 1,414 3,635 6,212 609 11,870 45.4% Total 2,767 7,238 14,442 1,708 26,155 100.0% % 10.58% 27.67% 55.22% 6.53% 100.0%

2, Chechenskaya street, Nazran, Office 55, 9, Granatny per., Ingushetia, Russian Federation 1 Moscow, Russian Federation tel.: 8 (8732) 22 89 94 tel.: 8 (495) 203 35 80 , 2005): DRC registered population in Chechnya (DRC statistics as of December 30, <=1999 - <=1987 - Gender >1999 <=1944 Total % >1987 >1944 Female 29,806 86,766 193,350 34,471 344,393 52.9% Male 30,480 88,568 165,647 22,238 306,933 47.1% Total 60,286 175,334 358,997 56,709 651,326 100.0% % 9.26% 26.92% 55.12% 8.71% 100.0%

As of December 30, DRC’s registration database in relevant districts of Chechnya totaled 651,326 people . Of these, 218 ,86 6 individuals are eligible for basic food and non -food aid (according to DRC beneficiary selection criteria). 93,466 persons are considered as vulnerable. In December , 201 pe rsons returned to Chechnya from Ingushetia (according to DRC registration database ). DRC Program Relief Activities Food Aid Ingushetia: From November 23 to December 10, DRC conducted the 10 th cycle of food distribution in Ingushetia . The ration consisted of wheat flou r (10 kg per person ).

Chechnya and Dagestan : In December , through WFP pipeline, DRC conducted distributions of food aid for October (flour) in Sunzha and Achkhoy -Martan District . Besides, through ECHO pipeline, DRC served beneficiaries in , Urus -Martan and Nozhay -Yurt Districts ( flour, oil, sugar and salt). School Feeding in Chechnya Th e WFP -funded 2 -month rations had already been delivered to schools of Shali District and Argun town in November, and SIDA -funded 3 -month rations had been to schools of Sharoy, Shatoy and Itum -Kali Dist ricts – in October . In December, DRC installed box -tents, which will be used as canteens, in schoolyards of Shatoy, Nikhaloy, Ulus -Kert and Day. Non -Food Aid Chechnya : To improve living conditions of mountainous Chechnya residents in winter period, DRC was preparing for distribution of firewood, winterized women’s robes and galoshes to start in Janua ry 2006 . Firewood beneficiaries will be households included into food beneficiary lists; women over 16 years of age will receive robes; and women aged 16 -60 will receive galoshes. The project area is Mountain , Vedeno, Shali and Nozhay -Yurt Districts of Chechnya. The project is funded by ECHO . Temporary Shelter The agreement with E CHO was extended to ensure the construction 55 additional box -tents and repairs in 3 existing temporary settlement s in Ingushetia . In December, DRC procured all necessary materials for box -tents . The final selection of beneficiary households will be made in January, and all box -tents will have been installed by February 15, 2006 . Besides, IDP rooms in three other tempo rary settlements will be repaired by the end of the project (“Kleboprodukt -1”, “UMS” in Sleptsovsk and “Detsad” in Karabulak). The production of the fourth batch of box -tents for UNHCR (200 in addition to the 900 already produced ) was completed . All elem ents and accessories (except floor boards) were handed over to UNHCR. Due to the lack of timber in the region in winter season, the remaining 160 m 3 of timber will only be procured in mid -January 2006.

Recovery activities Physical Rehabilitation In Ingushetia , with UNHCR funding, DRC is construct ing 40 houses for IDPs from Chechnya and North Ossetia , wishing to remain in Ingushetia permanently. 14 poorest and most vulnerable households are also provided with labor for construction works . In December , DRC conducted distribution of materials for roofing and interior . According to the monitoring re ports , 36 households completed wall -laying, and 31 finalized roof construction .

2 In Chechnya , under the project funded by the Government of Norw ay through the Norwegian Refugee Council, DRC finalized the distribution of roofing materials to 30 beneficiary households in Samashki. Also, bricks and roofing materials were delivered to 10 households in Staropromyslovskiy district of . Under the “One Dry Room” project funded by UNHCR, DRC delivered roofing materials to 71 households in Starye Atagi and to 188 households in Grozny. Within the frame of the project funded by the DC -Ireland, DRC is completing the registration of potential beneficiar y households in the village of Zony. 30 households having houses of categories 3 and 4 (heavy damage) will benefit from the project ; 15 of them, especially vulnerable, will be assisted additionally – apart from construction materials for rehabilitation of houses, they will receive box -tents for temporary accommodation. In December, DRC in cooperation with the local NGO “Center of Humanitarian Assistance” started the implementation of the ECHO -funded project aimed at rehabilitation of 54 houses (categories 2-3) in Grozny Rural District . With the funds of the Norwegian Government (through the Norwegian Refugee Council) DRC also conducts construction/completion of 57 houses belonging to households of refugees/forced migrants from Georgia (including South Osse tia) having chosen to integrate in North Ossetia . In December, DRC identified and contracted 2 brigades, which will conduct construction works for 5 most vulnerable households. Also, materials for walls were distributed (building blocks, cement, sand, reinforce ment). Under the UNHCR -funded h ousing project in North Ossetia, 19 houses will be constructed for refugees/forced migrants from Georgia, previously residing in collective centers and having received/acquired land plots in North Ossetia to integrate . Seven particularly vulnerable households will be assisted with construction brigades. In December , brigades were selected and started working on foundations. By the end of the month, 5 foundations were completed. The beneficiaries under the ‘self -help’ principle comp leted foundations and proceeded to wall -laying. Taking into account low temperatures, DRC provided beneficiaries with special chemicals to allow for cement works under the temperature > -15 oC. Community Development Fruitful cooperation with local communities and returnees allowed to successfully continue the implementation of the program in the Chechen Republic . At present, submission of applications from potential beneficiaries has been suspended, but the consulting continues. Within the frame of the two -year project funded by the Government of Denmark, DRC completed implementation of projects selected for funding in March (3 project in Ingushetia, 5 – in Chechnya) . 5 p rojects selected in October are at the initial stage of implementation. In the early No vember, DRC conducted a selection of 5 projects for the funding by the Norwegian Government (through the Norwegian Refugee Council) , for which the funds are being transferred. The quick impact projects (QIPs) funded by UNHCR are focused on covering the m ost vulnerable groups of population (women, children, youth, elderly, disabled). Within 2005, 31 projects were completed, and four – rejected by the Committee consisting of UNHCR and DRC staff. Each of the above projects includes social component – assis tance to socially vulnerable people and/or their participation in the business. Psycho -Social Support In Chechnya , DRC psychosocial team s carry out program activities in 4 centers in Grozny: school 44, 49, 8 and TAC in Oktyabrskiy district of Grozny. In December , the program activities were implemented as follows :  Open groups : − 4 playing groups daily, 41 2 -hour sessions in total for 59 children aged 9 -14 ; − 1 adolescent girls group weekly, three 2-hour sessions for 10 adolescent -girls aged 12 -15 ; − 1 sport group for 20 children aged 11 -16 (football, volleyball, etc.); − 1 ping -pong group weekly, involving 20 persons aged 17 -20; − Chess club for 12 children facilitated by a volunteer, 19 2 -hour sessions;  Cinema hall serving 300 seats per month;  Events:

3 − World AIDS Day – lecture, exh ibition of children’s drawings, demonstration of a video – 50 children and youth took part in the event; − Program “Leisure” – visit to a cinema theater and a café by 40 children and adolescents aged 11 -17; − New Year Celebration – amateur performance, contest s, cakes for 30 adolescents aged 14 -16.  Lectures on HIV/AIDS prevention among 270 adolescents -schoolchildren of 6 -11 grades ;  Trip to the resort center Rodnik in Kislovodsk for 26 children, adolescents and women, who survived traumatic experiences during military operations in the North Caucasus: − PTSD diagnostics for 26 persons (16 children and adolescents and 10 women); − Individual counseling and psychological correction – 91 sessions ; − Psychological correction groups – 2 groups, 10 sessions with each; − Women’s group – 10 women aged 42 -60; − Adolescents’ group – 16 persons aged 12 -18; − Excursion in Kislovodsk, circus performance, bowling; − Feedback. In North Ossetia , the psycho -social activities are implemented in Mayskoye village (secondary school) and Chermen (schools no . 1, 2 and 3) . In December , DRC supported the New Year ’s celebration s in the se four schools (procurement of decorations). Also, 10 women from Prigorodny District were sent to the psychological rehabilitation in the resort center Rodnik in Kislovodsk. NGO Devel opment and Capacity Building The implementation of the social project “Playroom -Library in Samashki” conducted by the NGO “Sozidaniye” (Gudermes) is ongoing. The local administration confirmed its consent to support the project upon its completion. The pr oject “Summer Club Art -Serlo in Samashki” implemented by the NGO “ Art-Serlo” (Oyskhar, Gudermes District) is ongoing. In December, the implementer conducted the exhibition “Children of Chechnya – about War and Peace” in the Republican Library of Grozny . Cl asses for 24 children (aged 10 - 15) started. Children work with psychologists in 3 groups to learn decorative and fine arts, discussing living of migrants. Higher Education Partnership In December all Partnerships maintained working contacts with the Danish partners. The participants of the program have regular consultations with their partners and conduct joint scientific and research activities. The ending date of the project is December 31. However, due to some funds remaining, it was decided to prolong the project until May 2006. Registration Ingushetia : In December 2005, 620 people addressed I nformation Center s and 124 applications were accepted from IDPs . Further consultations and counseling were conducted by IC staff for 477 persons; 24 forms #4 we re filled in for 123 persons ( also, Vesta monitors filled in 16 forms # 4 for 78 persons) . 11 applications for unification and technical separation of families were processed in DRC Office in Nazran . Mobile registration/verification teams considered 159 app lications. A total of 1,025 families were visited at their addresses. DRC registration staff conducted verifications of IDPs in the private sector of Nasyr -Kort, Chemulga, N . Achaluki, S. Achaluki, Berd -Yurt and Nazran .

Chechnya : In December 2005, 2,227 p ersons addressed DRC ICs in Chechnya regarding eligibility for food and non -food aid, as well other types of assistance. Of these consultatio ns, DRC accepted 738 written applications, out of them 437 complaints (applications to reconsider the status of a h ousehold and include it into beneficiary lists) . 1, 489 persons received information from the computerized database. This month, DRC mobile registration teams visited 433 households. Verification exercises were conducted in Nozhay - Yurt, Gudermes, Shali and Urus -Martan Districts . Dagestan : At present, DRC, with the assistance of the implementing partner in Dagestan (the local NGO “Kizlyar Regional Public Organization for Support to IDPs and Refugees”), is verifying the lists of aid beneficiaries in Dagestan . The Implementing Partner is collecting data under the guidance and supervision of DRC. All collected data are entered into the DRC Registration Database.

4 Besides, DRC’s donors and partners, as well as other NGOs operating in the North Caucasus (23 a gencies in total) receive statistical information or beneficiary lists generated from the DRC registration database. Mine Risk Education The project continued at education al institution s (schools, etc. ), bus -stations and at the Central Library in Grozny, as well as in the private sector of Shelkovskoy District. 3,669 people received mine risk education in December. The Teachers’ Training Course educat ing teachers in the “Mine Awareness” is ongoing. In December, 36 teachers from Shali District, Argun and Grozny took part in the training. In December, 16 more safe playgrounds were constructed: 7 in Vedeno, 5 in Nozhay -Yurt, 1 in Shali, 1 in Shatoy and 2 in Grozny Rural Districts of Chechnya . Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation In the middle of 2005, the structure of DRC in the North Caucasus was amplified with the Assessment, Monitoring & Evaluation Unit with the purpose to contribute to analysis and control of projects implemented by DRC operational departments, and to appraise the impact of DRC projects in the North Cau casus. In December, the Unit worked on the elaboration of mechanisms for forming assessment teams. T he teams will as sess wh ether the current DRC programs appropriately serve the needs of the beneficiary population. DRC Administration Current Mission st rength DRC presently deploys over 300 national staff and 9 international staff – managers of all operational sectors and units.

More detailed information about DRC ’s activities can be obtained by contacting DRC ’s offices in Nazran and Moscow (please see page 1) .

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