Briefing Kit Northern Caucasus Humanitarian Action United Nations in the Russian Federation June 2001 Table of Contents 1. Situation overview………………………………………………………………………… 1 1.1 Reference Information: Chechnya and Ingushetia……….………………….………… 1 1.2 Regional overview ……………………..…………………………………….………….... 3 2. Humanitarian action by sector and UN focal points……….………………….….… 3 a. Protection………………………………………………………………….……… 3 b. Food………………………………………………………………………….……. 4 c. Shelter and non-food items……………..………………………………….…… 4 d. Health……………………………………………………………………………... 5 e. Water and sanitation…………………………………………………………….. 5 f. Education…………………………………………………………………………. 5 g. Mine action *……………………………………………………………...……….. 6 3. Coordination and security overview…………………………………………………... 6 3.1 Coordination……………………………………………………………………………….. 6 3.2 Security…………………………………………………………………………………….. 6 4. The International Committee of the Red Cross……………………………………… 8 5. The NGO community……………………………………………………………………... 9 5.1 Overview of the NGOs working in the Northern Caucasus….……………………….. 10 6. Data and statistics………………………………………………………………………... 14 6.1 A note on population figures…………………………………………………...………... 14 6.2 Population movements…………………………………………………………………… 14 6.3 IDP Gender…………………………………………………………………………...…… 14 6.4 Where do the IDPs stay?………………………………………………………………… 14 6.5 UN, ICRC, and NGO geographic coverage……………………………………………. 15 6.6 UN, international organisations, and NGOs working in the Republics of Chechnya and Ingushetia…………..………………………………………………………………… 16 6.7 Food assistance in Ingushetia and Chechnya ……………………………………...… 17 6.8 Healthcare activities of NGOs in the Republic of Ingushetia…………….………...… 19 Annexes……………………………………………………………………………………….. 21 A) Memorandum of Understanding B) Donor support to humanitarian action in 2001 Table A. Summary of requirements and contributions by appealing agency Table B. Donor breakdown of contributions through appealing agency Table C. Additional humanitarian assistance to the Russian Federation outside of the framework of the UN consolidated inter-agency appeal C) UN monitoring: from purchase to final delivery D) Information on the course of rehabilitation work in the Republic of Chechnya E) Who’s who F) Organigramme (Federal) G) Organigramme (Regional) H) List of Acronyms and Abbreviations * Mine Action refers to mine awareness, victim assistance, and vocational training. Cover photo: 2 girls displaced by violence seek shelter in a spontaneous settlement. Source: UNHCR 1. SITUATION OVERVIEW Russian Federation Russian Federation Republic of Chechnya Republic of Ingushetia Reference Information Reference Information The Republic of Chechnya has been a constituent Republic of the The Republic of Ingushetia has been a constituent Republic of the Russian Federation since 1936 when it was a part of the Chechen- Ingush Russian Federation since 1936 when it was a part of the Chechen- Ingush Autonomous Soviet Social Republic. In 1991, the Chechen Republic Autonomous Soviet Social Republic. In 1991, the Chechen Republic declared itself independent and Ingushetia and Chechnya separated. The declared itself independent and Ingushetia and Chechnya separated. The Republic is divided into12 districts: Achkhoy-Martanovsky, Groznensky, Republic is divided into 4 districts: Dzhairakhsky, Nazranovsky, Gudermessky, Itum-Kalinsky, Nadterechny, Naursky, Nozhay-Yurtovsky, Malgobeksky, Sunzhensky. Shalinsky, Shatoisky, Shelkovskoy, Urus-Martanovsky, and Vedensky Territory Territory More than 16,000 sq km. 3,600 square kilometres Climate Climate Continental; average temperatures: -5 degrees Centigrade in January; +25 Continental; average temperatures: +5 degrees Centigrade in January; degrees Centigrade in July. +21 degrees Centigrade in July. Major Rivers Major Rivers Terek, Sunzha, Argun Terek, Assa, Sunzha Natural Resources Natural Resources Oil, gas, natural construction materials, mineral water, hot springs Oil, gas, marble, dolomite, chalkstone, mineral water, hot springs. Population Population 500,000 – 800,000 as of January, 1999 (latest available); urban population 316,900 as of January, 1999; urban population – 41.6%, rural population – – 67.8%, rural population – 32.2%. 58.4%. Indigenous nationality – Chechens (Nokhchiy) accounts for 75% of the Indigenous nationality – Ingushi (Galgai); other nationalities include total population; other nationalities include Russians, Ingushi, Armenians, Russians, Chechens, Armenians, Ukrainians, Turks. Ukrainians, Kumyks, Nogays, Ossetians, other North Caucasian peoples. Capital Capital Nazran - temporary administrative centre (76,200 population as of Grozny (approx. 200,000 population as of January, 1999; 2,007 km from January, 1998) Moscow). Magas – new capital, currently under construction Large Cities Large Cities Urus-Martan, Gudermes, Shali, Argun Malgobek, Karabulak Productive Sectors Productive Sectors Agriculture, oil and gas production, oil processing, petrochemistry, Agriculture, oil production, petrochemistry, construction materials, food machine-building, light industry, wood-processing. processing. Source: I.G.Kosikov, L.S.Kosikova ‘Northern Caucasus. Social and Economic Handbook.’ Moscow 1999. 1 2 1.2 REGIONAL OVERVIEW The humanitarian consequences of the events in the northern Caucasus continue to devastate the lives of some 330,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 690,000 residents in the Republic of Chechnya and the Republic of Ingushetia. In late autumn 1999, the United Nations, thanks to the generous financial and in-kind support of the international donor community (see annex B), began to address the protection and assistance needs of civilians in the Northern Caucasus, thereby complementing the relief being provided by the Russian Government (see annex C). During October 2000, the UN agencies involved in humanitarian action, including the UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Population Fund (UNFPA), UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP), and World Health Organization (WHO), and for the first time in this context Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), reviewed ongoing programmes in Chechnya and Ingushetia, assessed the current situation, and planned programmes for 2001. The Government's Ministry for Civil Defence, Emergencies, and the Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters (EMERCOM) and the Ministry on the Affairs of Federation, Nationalities and Migration Policy (Ministry of Federation), as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), participated in this process. Extensive consultations were held with non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The UN Humanitarian Coordinator, supported by OCHA, organised this process. As projected in the 2001 Consolidated Appeal, throughout the first half of 2001, there has been little or no return from Ingushetia to Chechnya (and of IDPs in Chechnya to their place of origin). This is a result of the continuing instability of the security environment inside Chechnya and the subsequent decision of IDPs to remain in Ingushetia until conditions improve to such an extent that they feel it is safe to return home. The overall goal of the UN's humanitarian programme is to complement governmental action to alleviate suffering and improve the quality of living conditions amongst civilians in need by continuing to provide humanitarian assistance. During 2001 UN agencies have continued to work in the following sectors: protection, food, shelter and non-food items, health, water and sanitation, education, mine awareness, and economic recovery and infrastructure. The number of beneficiaries varies by sector, for example 205,000 in education or 770,000 in water and sanitation, assuming that donor support continues to be provided. 2. HUMANITARIAN ACTION BY SECTOR AND UN FOCAL POINTS The UN coordination focal point for PROTECTION is UNHCR. The UNHCR Protection team continues to monitor IDP movement and conditions via their VESTA monitoring teams operational in Ingushetia and recently in Chechnya. The UN is aiming to: ensure that IDPs have access to secure locations and humanitarian assistance, including freedom of movement and the right to remain in safe areas; promote the creation of conditions that allow voluntary return; ensure the IDPs have access to necessary legal documentation and are treated according to human rights standards; empower regional and federal authorities and NGOs to implement effective protection monitoring and intervention; and focus psychosocial assistance on the civilians who have mental health needs, including victims of sexual violence. Other organisations in the Northern Caucasus, such as the Council of Europe who have three observers based in the northern Chechen town of Znamenskoye, the ICRC with expatriates visiting places of detention in Chechnya, and the Russian human rights group Memorial, are also playing a vital role in attempting to identify and assist IDPs with protection-related problems. On 15 June 2001, the Organisation for Security and Humanitarian Action in the Northern Caucasus: Briefing Kit 3 Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) returned to Chechnya, and is now also located in the town of Znamenskoye. Like the Council of Europe, the OSCE indicates in its operational mandate that it will ‘promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the establishment of facts concerning their violation’. The UN coordination focal point for FOOD is WFP. In February 2000, WFP replaced UNHCR as the primary supplier of basic foods to IDPs while UNHCR