UNHCR’s Activities in the North Caucasus

On 27–29 January the UNHCR team headed by the Regional Representative Jozsef Gyorke went on mission to the North Caucasus to assess the situation of IDPs residing in tented camps in Ingushetia and in temporary accommodation centers (TACs) in Chechnya as well as UNHCR’s activities in the region.

In Ingushetia the team visited the former tented camp "Iman" at Aki-Yurt and met with IDPs residing in box-tents provided by UNHCR in private sector at Aki-Yurt village. IDPs expressed gratitude to UNHCR for providing a temporary shelter after the closure of "Iman" camp. Gas and electricity were connected to box-tents. Each box-tent is a 24 square meter room, which accommodates up to 7–8 persons. The frame is made of timber and covered with insulated fibrebroad followed by plastic sheeting. The roofing material is ruberoid. In Karabulak another 21 box-tents were installed. A total of 40 box-tents were erected on the territory of Ingushetia and IDPs already inhabited 27 out of them at the end of January.

While visiting tented camps A and B, UNHCR representatives met with IDPs. Inhabitants of camps mentioned the lack of opportunity to get proper documents on the territory of Ingushetia as the main problem they have to face due to the fact that the Chechnya Passport Visa Service stopped to issue passports to Chechen IDPs in Ingushetia. They also complained of not receiving pensions and children allowances in Ingushetia, in order to get them they have to go to Chechnya. When asked about food supply, IDPs confirmed that the Ingushetia Migration Service provides them with a food package every month, this is food they did not get for several months earlier.

As for their future plans, IDPs residing in box-tents and in camps A and B expressed strong wish to remain in Ingushetia. The security situation was mentioned as the main reason for not returning.

In Chechnya UNHCR/UN team familiarized itself with living conditions of IDPs families in the Leninsky district of Grozny, who are beneficiaries of the project "One dry, warm room" funded by UNHCR. The UNHCR implementing partner "People in Need Foundation" reported that 605 families out of assisted in 2002 received and used construction material for rehabilitation of their damaged houses.

The team visited also two TACs in Staropromyslovsky district on Maykovskaya street. One of them accommodates 1,881 persons including 832 children, among them 385 teenagers. Basic leaving conditions in both TACs are acceptable. In the one, where people are already residing, latrines are emptied regularly, water is available in bladders outside the building, and there are gas and electricity. According to IDPs pensions, children and unemployment allowances are paid regularly; the Chechnya Migration Service provides them with food parcels. Children attend schools. But shortage of jobs was the main concern of IDPs. They asked to assist with some equipment for extra curricular activities for teenagers and a minibus to bring children to school.

While visiting a new TAC on the same street of Grozny which will accommodate 1,000 persons, A. Dudarkayev, Head of the Chechnya Migration Service, joined UNHCR/UN mission. He thanked the team, and in particular J. Gyorke, for coming. He also expressed gratitude for the UNHCR’s assistance provided to his Office in the past and forwarded a list of proposals for possible UNHCR’s aid in the future. Both sides confirmed their readiness for further co-operation.

On 10 February Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Yuri Fedotov and the recently appointed UNHCR Regional Representative Jozsef Gyorke exchanged letters concerning the official opening of sub-offices of the UNHCR Regional Office in the Russian Federation in Vladikavkaz and Nazran. These both sub-offices existed de facto, since UNHCR has been carrying out its operations in the North Caucasus for several years. Yuri Fedotov and Jozsef Gyorke also discussed issues related to the relief operation carried out by the international community in the North Caucasus. It was particularly emphasized at the meeting that successful implementation of the operation was largely dependent on UNHCR’s efforts in that area. The two sides also touched upon the issues of interaction between the Russian authorities and UNHCR on other priority areas in the sphere of migration.

International Days

United Nations Upholds the Principle of Voluntary Return of IDPs

to the Chechen Republic

In line with the provisions of international humanitarian law, the United Nations has consistently upheld the position that internally displaced persons (IDPs) have the right to be protected against forcible return or resettlement in any place where their life, safety, liberty or health would be at risk. Competent authorities have the primary duty and responsibility to establish conditions that allow IDPs to return voluntary, in safety and with dignity, to their homes or places of habitual residence, or to resettle voluntarily in another part of the country. Special efforts should also be made by the authorities to ensure, to the extent possible, the full participation of IDPs in the planning and management of their return or resettlement.

This issue has been of particular concern for the UN in the North Caucasus, more so, after the signing by the federal, Chechen, and Ingush authorities the Action Plan on the return of IDPs on 29 May 2002, and the closure in early July 2002 of two IDP camps in Znamenskoye, Chechnya, as well as in relation to the dismantling of the Iman IDP camp in Aki-Yurt, Ingushetia, at the beginning of December 2002. These developments fell in line with the stated intention of the Russian Government to accelerate the return of IDPs to temporary accommodation centers (TACs) or other accommodation in Chechnya and to close tent camps both in Chechnya and Ingushetia.

The United Nations has been closely monitoring the situation and reiterating the need to observe the principle of voluntary return in contacts with federal and local authorities. The UN representatives, including the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Kenzo Oshima, expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the closure of two camps in Znamenskoye and the camp in Aki-Yurt, underscoring that IDPs had been reluctant to move because of insecurity and the absence of proper living conditions in Chechnya.

Representatives of the Russian Government and of the Chechen and Ingush authorities have repeatedly confirmed their commitment to the principle of voluntary return to representatives of the UN country team and to visiting delegations, including the UN Secretary General. In this regard, the UN has been pointing to the importance of how this principle is understood. To UN it means the availability of accurate and complete information and options for IDPs to: remain in acceptable living conditions in Ingushetia; resettle to another part of the Russian Federation; or to return to Chechnya provided that there is no risk to their life, safety, liberty or health.

The ongoing constructive dialogue between the Russian authorities and the UN on this issue appears to be yielding positive results. For example, while visits to TACs in 2002 showed them to be inadequate, UN delegations visiting new TACs in Grozny in 2003 have noted significant improvements. Questions remain, however, about the overall environment in Grozny and other parts of Chechnya, and, ultimately, it is the displaced themselves who must decide whether or not they feel it safe to return. The UN will remain actively engaged with the Russian authorities on the issue in the coming months.

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