Chechnya/Ingushetia: one year on, over 150,000 remain displaced
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Ron Redmond – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
Just over one year after Russian federal troops drove separatist rebels from Chechnya's capital, Grozny, over 150,000 Chechens remain displaced in neighbouring Ingushetia and more people continue to flee the war-torn republic. In February alone, 2,500 people fled from Chechnya to Ingushetia, while only 200 trickled back during the same time. Those fleeing Chechnya paint a bleak picture of the devastated capital Grozny and other areas. Even though the population of the city is increasing slightly, those who visited Grozny say the inhabitants' life is marked by military checkpoints, nighttime gunfire and a daily struggle for sufficient food and water.
Most of those who fled to Ingushetia continue to stay with host families, but some of them are coming under pressure to leave. Last year, more than 700 people were evicted by their hosts, while ten times as many faced constant pressure to leave. UNHCR has been trying to remedy the situation by paying compensation to families who host the displaced. Abut 50,000 people are accommodated in tented camps, shipping containers, abandoned buildings and railway cars.
Since the Russian offensive in Chechnya began in the fall of 1999, UNHCR has sent a total of 137 aid convoys to the Northern Caucasus. 95 have gone to Ingushetia, 25 to Chechnya and the rest to neighbouring areas affected by the crisis. The convoy operation cost nearly US$ 10,000,000.
Related news and stories
Performers with refugee backgrounds take Eurovision by storm
'It was a very emotional moment … I felt that now I definitely exist'
'It was a very emotional moment … I felt that now I definitely exist' |#IBelong Ending Statelessness
The Global Compact on Refugees, explained
Ukraine internal displacement nears 1 million as fighting escalates in Donetsk region
A warm welcome for displaced Ukrainians in Russia's Rostov region
Your search for « Chechnya » matched 855 results. Displaying page 25 of 95 pages.
-
UNHCR Global Report 2007 - Russian Federation
1 Jun 2008 ... The opening of a UNHCR office in Grozny (in the Republic of Chechnya) was not approved. These ... Until early 2007 most IDPs cited security concerns and the absence of the rule of law in Chechnya as ...... -
SPCP South Caucasus: Armenia and Georgia Roundtable on Refugee Protection held in Tbilsi on 16 December 2009
16 Dec 2009 ... Cross Society (ARCS), Chechen Refugee Council and Kakheti Regional Development Foundation (KRDF). ... He highlighted the fact that Georgia has taken great steps in socio-economic integration of Chechen ...... -
UNHCR activities financed by voluntary funds: CIS countries and Turkey
8 Aug 1995 ... exception of a few ethnic Armenian families fleeing the conflict in Chechnya, Russian Federation. ... In addition, an estimated 400,000 persons have been displaced in and outside Chechnya, Russian ...... -
UNHCR Global Appeal 2003 - Russian Federation
1 Dec 2002 ... ... signed a Plan of Action to speed up the return of IDPs from Ingushetia to Chechnya. However, many IDPs are not willing to return because of security concerns and lack of adequate shelter in Chechnya. ...... -
UNHCR Global Report 1999 - Russian Federation
1 Jun 2000 ... *** Includes 100,000 displaced persons within Chechnya itself (according to UNHCR estimates). * ... The IRPs (the majority of them ethnic Russians) are from Kazakhstan, Chechnya, Uzbekistan, ...... -
UNHCR Global Report 2002 - Central Asia Regional Overview
1 Jun 2003 ... a negative influence on the asylum situation for Chechens, exacerbating regional security concerns. ... Afghans, UNHCR also assisted the return of Tajiks and Chechens from other Central Asian Republics. ...... -
UNHCR Country Operations Plan 2005 - Kazakhstan
1 Sep 2004 ... persons: 13,684 Chechens, 657 Afghans, 1454 Tajiks, 19 Chinese Uighurs and other nationalities. ... Protection and support to Chechen refugees The overall protection situation for the Chechen refugees ...... -
UNHCR Global Appeal 2010-2011 - Georgia
1 Dec 2009 ... Georgia also hosts some 1,000 refugees, mostly from the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation, ... The integration strategy for Chechen refugees, mainly in the Pankisi Valley, focuses on income ...... -
High Commissioner's trip to Russia
20 Oct 2000 ... Ogata is scheduled to meet Russia's President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and other high-ranking officials. UNHCR is assisting some 140,000 people displaced from Chechnya and hosted ......