PROFILE OF INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT : RUSSIAN FEDERATION Compilation of the information available in the Global IDP Database of the Norwegian Refugee Council (as of 12 October, 2001) Also available at http://www.idpproject.org Users of this document are welcome to credit the Global IDP Database for the collection of information. The opinions expressed here are those of the sources and are not necessarily shared by the Global IDP Project or NRC Norwegian Refugee Council/Global IDP Project Chemin Moïse Duboule, 59 1209 Geneva - Switzerland Tel: + 41 22 788 80 85 Fax: + 41 22 788 80 86 E-mail : [email protected] CONTENTS CONTENTS 1 PROFILE SUMMARY 7 CAUSES AND BACKGROUND OF DISPLACEMENT 11 THE CONFLICTS IN CHECHNYA 11 BACKGROUND TO THE CONFLICT: CHECHNYA RECENT HISTORY (1922-1998) 11 THE MILITARY OPERATIONS IN DAGESTAN AND CHECHNYA (SEPTEMBER 1999 - MARCH 2000) 13 VIOLATIONS OF HUMANITARIAN LAW BY THE FEDERAL FORCES HAS LED DIRECTLY TO THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE CIVILIAN POPULATION (1999-2000) 16 CIVILIAN POPULATION IN CHECHNYA EXPOSED TO ABUSES BY THE CHECHEN REBELS (1999- 2000) 18 FEDERAL AUTHORITIES TAKE MEASURES TO STABILISE THE SITUATION IN CHECHNYA (2000- 2001) 18 THE ARMED CONFLICT CONTINUES IN THE FORM OF A GUERILLA WARFARE (2000-2001) 20 CIVILIAN POPULATION IN CHECHNYA ALSO EXPOSED TO THE VIOLENCE OF THE CHECHEN REBEL GROUPS (2000) 23 REVIEW OF POPULATION MOVEMENTS BETWEEN CHECHNYA AND INGUSHETIA (SEPTEMBER 1999-DECEMBER 2000) 24 OTHER CAUSES OF DISPLACEMENT 26 ETHNIC RUSSIAN POPULATION LEAVE NORTH CAUCASIAN REPUBLICS IN A CONTEXT OF ETHNIC ANTAGONISMS 26 DISPLACEMENT RESULTING FROM THE INTER-COMMUNAL CONFLICT IN THE PRIGORODNY DISTRICT (1992-1998) 27 DEFINITIONS 28 INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT IN THE CIS REGION: A WIDE RANGE OF CATEGORIES 28 POPULATION PROFILE AND FIGURES 31 POPULATION FIGURES: DISPLACEMENT AS A RESULT OF THE SECOND CONFLICT IN CHECHNYA (SINCE AUGUST 1999) 31 DISPLACED POPULATION IN INGUSHETIA: AT LEAST 150,000 PERSONS (SEPTEMBER 2001) 31 DISPLACED POPULATION IN CHECHNYA: AT LEAST 134,000 PERSONS (SEPTEMBER 2001) 32 INGUSHETIA HOSTS BETWEEN 120,000 AND 170,000 DISPLACED PERSONS FROM CHECHNYA (NOVEMBER 2000-MARCH 2001) 34 ESTIMATES FOR THE INTERNALLY DISPLACED POPULATION IN CHECHNYA RANGE FROM 138,000 TO 235,000 PERSONS (FEBRUARY 2001) 36 NO PRECISE FIGURE FOR THE DISPLACED WHO LEFT CHECHNYA AND INGUSHETIA TO OTHER PARTS OF RUSSIA (2000) 38 POPULATION FIGURES: OTHER SITUATIONS OF DISPLACEMENT 38 CASELOAD FROM THE FIRST CONFLICT IN CHECHNYA 38 INGUSHETIA HOSTS BETWEEN 16,000 AND 35,000 DISPLACED FROM THE PRIGORODNY DISTRICT (NORTH OSSETIA) (1999-2000) 39 STATISTICAL SOURCES 40 POPULATIONS FIGURES OF THE FEDERAL AND REGIONAL MIGRATION SERVICES FLAWED BY INCONSISTENT PRACTICES 40 THE DANISH REFUGEE COUNCIL PUTS IN PLACE AN INFORMAL REGISTRATION SYSTEM IN INGUSHETIA (1999-2000) 41 PATTERNS OF DISPLACEMENT 44 GENERAL 44 CONSTANT MOVEMENTS OF IDPS BETWEEN CHECHNYA AND INGUSHETIA (2000) 44 HIGH-RISK ROAD TO SAFETY: SELECTED REPORTS (NOVEMBER 1999) 44 PROTECTION CONCERNS 47 PHYSICAL SAFETY AND PERSONAL LIBERTY 47 DISPLACED IN INGUSHETIA UNDER PRESSURE TO RETURN TO CHECHNYA (1999-2001) 47 CIVILIAN POPULATION IN CHECHNYA CONTINUOUSLY EXPOSED TO MAJOR THREATS FOR PHYSICAL AND PERSONAL SECURITY (2000-2001) 49 CIVILIAN CASUALTIES IN CHECHNYA MAINLY CAUSED BY LANDMINES AND UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE (2000) 53 CHECHENS ELSEWHERE IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION EXPOSED TO DISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT (2000) 53 LOCAL POPULATION AND DISPLACED PERSONS IN SOUTHERN INGUSHETIA EXPOSED TO MILITARY ACTIVITIES (AUGUST 2000) 54 TENSIONS BETWEEN THE DISPLACED POPULATION AND LOCALS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS IN INGUSHETIA (AUGUST 2000) 54 FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT 54 RUSSIAN MILITARY IMPOSES STRICT LIMITATIONS ON MOVEMENT INSIDE CHECHNYA (2000) 55 THE "PROPISKA" SYSTEM REMAINS DE FACTO IN PLACE IN SEVERAL REGIONS (2000) 55 SUBSISTENCE NEEDS (HEALTH NUTRITION AND SHELTER) 57 FOOD 57 THE MAJORITY OF HOUSEHOLDS IN CHECHNYA NEEDS EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE (2001) 57 NUTRITION SITUATION IN INGUSHETIA REMAINS PRECARIOUS (2000) 57 SHELTER 59 INTERNALLY DISPLACED IN INGUSHETIA FACE HIGH RISK OF EVICTION FROM THEIR TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION (2001) 59 ABOUT 77,000 DISPLACED IN INGUSHETIA IN NEED OF URGENT SHELTER ASSISTANCE (2000) 60 VAST SHELTER NEEDS IN GROZNY AND OTHER TOWNS IN CHECHNYA (2000) 61 SEVERE CONDITIONS IN CAMPS IN CHECHNYA: THE EXAMPLES OF CAMPS IN SERNOVODSK, ARGUN AND GUDERMES (2000) 62 2 DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE DISPLACED CHECHEN DISPLACED REPORTEDLY IMPEDES THEIR ACCESS TO ACCOMMODATION IN MOSCOW (1999) 63 HEALTH 63 HEALTH NEEDS OF THE POPULATION IN CHECHNYA LARGELY UNMET (2000-2001) 63 HEALTH SITUATION IN INGUSHETIA REQUIRES VIGILANCE AND CAREFUL MONITORING (2001) 65 OUTBREAK OF HEPATITIS A REPORTED IN IDP CAMPS (2000) 67 7,000 PERSONS IN NEED OF PROSTHETIC OR ORTHOPAEDIC HELP IN CHECHNYA (2000) 67 PSYCHOSOCIAL NEEDS OF THE DISPLACED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES (DECEMBER 1999- MARCH 2000) 68 MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN: CHECHEN ASSOCIATION OF PSYCHIATRISTS AND NEUROLOGISTS REVEALS SEVERE PROBLEMS IN CHECHNYA (2000) 70 WATER AND SANITATION 70 INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT IN INGUSHETIA MUST BE MAINTAINED AND UPGRADED IN ORDER TO MEET POST-EMERGENCY NEEDS (2000) 70 LACK OF CLEAR WATER AND POOR SANITATION CREATES MAJOR THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH IN CHECHNYA (2000) 71 ACCESS TO EDUCATION 72 INGUSHETIA 72 ACUTE LACK OF EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES FOR THE DISPLACED POPULATION IN INGUSHETIA (2000) 72 CHECHNYA 73 287 SCHOOLS OUT OF A TOTAL OF 400 ARE AT LEAST PARTLY OPERATIONAL IN CHECHNYA (2000) 73 ISSUES OF SELF-RELIANCE AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 74 SELF-RELIANCE 74 ESSENTIAL CONTRIBUTION OF HOST FAMILIES (2000) 74 AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES NEED EXTERNAL SUPPORT TO ENHANCE SELF-RELIANCE CAPACITY OF THE DISPLACED POPULATION IN INGUSHETIA AND CHECHNYA (2000) 74 COPING STRATEGIES OF THE DISPLACED IN INGUSHETIA: HEAVY DEPENDENCE ON AID (JULY 2000) 76 INFLUX OF IDPS FROM CHECHNYA AGGRAVATES THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION IN NORTH CAUCASUS (MARCH 2000) 77 PARTICIPATION 78 IDPS IN INGUSHETIA VOICE THEIR CONCERNS (2001) 78 PARTICIPATION OF THE INTERNALLY DISPLACED POPULATION TO THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS (26 MARCH 2000) 79 DISPLACED IN INGUSHETIA WERE ALLOWED TO VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE CHECHNYA REPRESENTATIVE IN THE STATE DUMA (AUGUST 2000) 81 DOCUMENTATION NEEDS AND CITIZENSHIP 82 DOCUMENTATION NEEDS 82 IMPROVING ACCESS OF THE DISPLACED POPULATION TO IDENTITY DOCUMENTS (2000) 82 3 MOST DISPLACED FROM CHECHNYA ARE NOT GRANTED THE FORCED MIGRANT STATUS (NOVEMBER 1999-SEPTEMBER 2000) 82 ISSUES OF FAMILY UNITY, IDENTITY AND CULTURE 85 FAMILY UNITY 85 DISPLACED IN INGUSHETIA GATHERED INTO "FAMILIES" AVERAGING 9 MEMBERS (1999-2000) 85 REPORTS OF CHECHEN MEN SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILIES AT THE CHECHEN-INGUSH BORDER AND CHECKPOINTS (JANUARY 2000) 85 PROPERTY ISSUES 87 GENERAL 87 THERE IS NO LEGAL BASIS PROVIDING FOR COMPENSATION FOR PROPERTIES DESTROYED AS A RESULT OF THE SECOND CONFLICT IN CHECHNYA (2000) 87 25 % OF THE DISPLACED POPULATION INTERVIEWED BY MSF DESCRIBED THEIR HOMES IN CHECHNYA AS INTACT OR LIGHTLY DESTROYED 87 REPORTS OF WIDESPREAD LOOTING BY RUSSIAN FORCES INSIDE CHECHNYA (NOVEMBER 1999) 88 PATTERNS OF RETURN AND RESETTLEMENT 89 RETURN TO CHECHNYA 89 FEW DISPLACED HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS OFFICIAL AID FOR RETURN (2000) 89 CONDITIONS FOR RETURN TO CHECHNYA NOT FULFILLED (2000-2001) 89 MOVEMENTS OF DISPLACED PERSONS BETWEEN INGUSHETIA AND CHECHNYA REMAIN WITHOUT EFFECT ON THE TOTAL IDP CASELOAD (2000-2001) 91 FEDERAL AUTHORITIES PLAN RETURN OF DISPLACED POPULATION TO CHECHNYA (2000-2001) 92 RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT TAKES MEASURES FOR REHABILITATION AND LONG-TERM RECONSTRUCTION WORK IN CHECHNYA (2000-2001) 94 UNHCR AVOIDS STIMULATING FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY IN CHECHNYA (FEBRUARY 2001) 95 UNHCR PREPARES PROGRAMMES FOR ASSISTING DISPLACED RETURNING TO CHECHNYA (2000) 96 RETURN TO THE PRIGORODNY DISTRICT (NORTH-OSSETIA) 97 MOST DISPLACED WILL RETURN BUT A SMALL PORTION IS LIKELY TO STAY DURABLY IN INGUSHETIA (2001) 97 RESETTLEMENT 99 ABOUT 35,000 ETHNIC INGUSH DISPLACED WILL BE PERMANENTLY RESETTLED IN INGUSHETIA (2000-2001) 99 SUCCESSFUL INTEGRATION OF THE ETHNIC RUSSIANS DISPLACED FROM CHECHNYA IN THE STAVROPOL REGION (2000) 100 HUMANITARIAN ACCESS 101 ACCESS TO NORTH CAUCASUS 101 INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN WORK FACE DIFFICULT SECURITY CONDITIONS IN NORTHERN CAUCASUS (2001) 101 4 BUREAUCRATIC OBSTACLES HAMPER TIMELY DELIVERY OF HUMANITARIAN AID IN CHECHNYA (2000-2001) 103 TEMPORARY SUSPENSIONS OF HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS IN CHECHNYA FOLLOWING SECURITY INCIDENTS (2001) 105 ACCESS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATIONS AND JOURNALISTS TO NORTHERN CAUCASUS STRICTLY LIMITED (2000) 106 THE RESPONSE TO LACK OF ACCESS BY INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES: FROM THE 'REMOTE CONTROL' CONCEPT TO A MORE ACTIVE PRESENCE (1999-2000) 107 NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESPONSES 109 LEGAL BACKGROUND 109 THE CIS CONFERENCE: A REGIONAL PROCESS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS OF DISPLACEMENT (MAY 1996) 109 AN OFFICIAL CATEGORY FOR IDPS AND INVOLUNTARY MIGRANTS FROM THE FORMER SOVIET UNION: THE STATUS OF "FORCED MIGRANT" 111 LOCAL AND NATIONAL AUTHORITIES 112 FEDERAL AUTHORITIES PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL AID TO THE DISPLACED POPULATION (2000-2001) 112 DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD AID IN INGUSHETIA REGULARLY SUSPENDED BECAUSE OF DISRUPTED PAYMENTS FROM THE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES (2000-2001) 114 NEIGHBOURING REPUBLICS RELUCTANT TO HOST MORE CHECHENS, EXCEPT INGUSHETIA (1999- 2001) 115 INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE 116 UN HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR SUPERVISES UN HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES IN NORTHERN CAUCASUS (2000) 116 MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE