 |
|
|
OCHA United Nation Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |
On 19 November 2002 the United Nations in Moscow presented
its 2003 Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for 
Chechnya
and Neighbouring Republics (North Caucasus – Russian Federation) for humanitarian
assistance for the civilian population affected by the events in the Republic
of Chechnya. The appeal seeks US $33,732,884 from the international donor community
and is part of a global effort launched by the United Nations from 19-20 November
on behalf of 50 million people suffering from the consequences of humanitarian
crises in 30 countries and regions of the world.
Three years after the resumption of hostilities in Chechnya,
confrontation continues and has now occurred in Ingushetia, aggravating the
fragile existence of one million civilians and 250,00
0
displaced persons. The lack of a political accommodation, violence and the associated
human rights abuses, and striking poverty are a powerful mix for suffering in
the region. UN humanitarian action, which complements efforts by governmental
and non-governmental organisations, aims to protect and assist people in Chechnya,
preserve Ingushetia as a safe haven for displaced persons, and ensure the principle
of their voluntary return to Chechnya.
Various UN agencies, including the UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP), and World Health Organization (WHO), plan to continue working in the sectors of protection, food, shelter and non-food, health, water and sanitation, education, mine action, and economic recovery. The United Nations Security Coordinator (UNSECOORD) manages staff safety on a day-to-day basis.
The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator, supported by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), is responsible for overall management of the UN’s work in the Chechnya and neighbouring republics of the Russian Federation.
In Moscow, Ms Rosemary McCreery, UN Humanitarian Coordinator a.i., and Mr Toby Lanzer, Head of OCHA in the Russian Federation, presented the UN’s programme for 2003 to representatives of the Government of the Russian Federation, Administration of the Republic of Chechnya, embassies of donor countries, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and NGOs. Mr Frederick Lyons, UN Humanitarian Coordinator, launched the 2003 Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Chechnya and Neighbouring Republics (North Caucasus – Russian Federation) in Bern, Switzerland, together with Ms Louise Frechette, UN Deputy Secretary General.
The full text of the 2003 Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Chechnya and Neighbouring Republics (North Caucasus – Russian Federation) can be found on www.ocha.ru or obtained from the OCHA office in the Russian Federation:6 pereulok Obukha, Moscow 105064, Tel.: (095) 956 64 05.
|
|
|
UN World Food Programme |
On 8–10 October the Executive Director of the UN World Food
Programme (WFP), James T. Morris, visited the Russian 
Federation
at the invitation of the Russian Foreign Affairs Minister, Igor Ivanov. The
purpose of the visit was to bring Russia on board as a new donor to WFP, and
to review the current emergency operation for provision of humanitarian food
assistance in the North Caucasus.
WFP, being the largest humanitarian food agency in the world, in 2001 provided 4.2 million tons of food commodities worth US$ 1.7 billion to 77 million people in 82 countries of the world, including 8 million internally displaced people and 3 million refugees.
During his visit to Moscow, James T. Morris conducted several meetings with high-ranking Russian governmental officials. His first appointment being with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture Alexei Gordeev. After the meeting, at the joint press conference, it was announced that Russia is committed to become a donor to WFP with its first contribution of 30,000 tons of wheat for WFP’s emergency operations in Southern Africa, North Korea and Afghanistan, where the current food situation is most crucial.
James T. Morris also met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Ivanov and Deputy Minister Yury Fedotov, who reaffirmed their readiness to support the extension of fruitful cooperation between WFP and the Russian government. Presently Russia is a member of WFP’s Executive Board, as well as member of the Bureau, representing Central and Eastern-European countries. Other topics discussed at the meeting were focused on Southern Africa region, where about 14 million people are left at the risk of starvation due to severe droughts. James T. Morris, who was appointed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan as his Special Envoy for Southern Africa, expressed hope that the Russian government will consider possibilities for assistance to WFP in this matter.
Other meetings held by WFP Executive Director were with the Head of the Chechen Administration Akhmad Kadyrov, First Deputy Minister of EMERCOM of Russia Yury Vorobiev and Deputy Minister Yury Brazhnikov, Chairman of Federation Council Committee on International Affairs Mikhail Margelov, Chairman of the State Duma Agricultural Committee Gennady Kulik.
James T. Morris also met with UNCT and donor representatives in Moscow.
In the Russian Federation WFP had its first presence in the
North Caucasus in 1995-97, and opened its office in 
Moscow
in January 2000. Since then, WFP has provided emergency assistance worth US$
44 million, including 103,000 tons of food commodities. This amount represents
48 percent of the overall UN Consolidated Appeal for the North Caucasus and
makes WFP the largest provider of humanitarian assistance amongst the UN Agencies.
Basic food assistance, provided by WFP on a monthly basis, complements the efforts of the Russian Government to alleviate hunger and sustain the livelihoods of the population in the North Caucasus. WFP has been providing basic food commodities – wheat flour, sugar, edible oil and iodised salt – to about 300,000 beneficiaries (130,000 internally displaced persons in Ingushetia and 170,000 extremely vulnerable beneficiaries in Chechnya through various activities, such as relief distribution, food-for-work projects, institutional and school feeding programmes. The average annual share of food commodities procured by WFP on the local Russian market is 60%, the remaining 40% being food imported into Russia.
In January 2002 WFP established a new logistics corridor – the Russian port of St. Petersburg – from where WFP transports the imported humanitarian goods by rail to Nazran, Ingushetia, and then by trucks to the final distribution points.
WFP has been running relief projects of bread bakeries in Chechnya in partnership with various NGOs, providing them with mixed food commodities. The projects allow for daily distribution of bread among the elderly, widowed, disabled people, and families with many children. Over 90% of the staff employed in the projects are local women, who comprise 55% of WFP’s targeted beneficiaries.
Under the umbrella of WFP’s Global School Feeding Campain, WFP launched a school feeding activity in Chechnya in December 2001, providing hot meals to 20,000 primary school children in 80 schools. In September 2002, WFP expanded the activity by increasing the number of primary school children to 45,000 in 158 schools in Grozny City, Grozny rural, Achkoy-Martan, Sunzha and Gudermes districts. Since January 2003 WFP will start to provide hot meals to about 2,000 pre-school children.
On 7 October 2002 WFP Executive Director, James T. Morris, jointly with Director General of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Jacques Diouf, approved new emergency operation for the Russian Federation for 2003 – "Emergency Food Assistance to Conflict-affected Internally Displaced Persons and Vulnerable Households in the North Caucasus". Under this operation WFP will provide 34,000 tons of food commodities worth US$16 million to about 290,500 targeted beneficiaries in Chechnya and Ingushetia.
|
WFP provides emergency food assistance:
– to save lives of people in refugeå and other emergency situations;
– to improve the nutrition and quality of life of the most vulnerable people at critical times of their lives;
– to help build assets and promote self-reliance of poor people and communities, particularly through labour-intensive works.
For more information on WFP and its activities,
visit out web site at www.wfp.org,
or contact WFP, Russia,
Tel: (7-095) 956-49-68, Fax: (7-095) 956-49-89
