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Source: U.N. Department of Humanitarian Affairs
Date : 30 Nov 1996
UNITED NATIONS CONSOLIDATED
INTER-AGENCY APPEAL FOR
THE CAUCASUS
(Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia)
June 1996 - May 1997
MID-TERM REVIEW
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ANNEX I. Financial Summaries
ANNEX II. International Committee of The Red Cross
ANNEX III. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
ANNEX IV. List of Abbreviations and Acronyms
back to the table of contents
1. WFP/Caucasus Logistics Advisory Unit(CLAU) aims to coordinate relief shipments and
optimise
the infrastructure of the regional port and railways so that food aid cargoes for the Caucasus
reach their
final destination on time. WFP/CLAU has successfully discharged these functions. At no time
during the
past three years has a relief shipment been delayed for logistics reasons. Traffic capacity has been
enhanced and ports and railways have started to develop operating profits, which are being
re-invested for
maintenance and development. The regional logistics network has been upgraded so that it can
handle the
projected increase in traffic independently.
2. Consequently, WFP/CLAU has started to phase down its large regional logistics infrastructure
but will continue to work closely with the major donors to ensure a smooth transition from its
emergency
interventions to long-term development. During the present Appeal period, WFP/CLAU has
carried out
or intends to undertake the following activities:
- Construction of the new railway bridge on the Banusha river has been completed.
- The regional aircraft service will continue to operate.
- Procurement of the most urgently needed spare parts and critical material inputs to the
regional railways will continue.
- The regional wagon computer tracking system, which WFP/CLAU established, will be
enhanced.
- The logistics advisory role to the railways, donor community, and NGOs will be
continued.
3. To date, US$ 2,447,627 out of the required US$ 5,495,000 has been contributed to WFP and
it
is hoped that additional contributions will be forthcoming in the near future.
FINANCIAL SUMMARIES
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS
ARMENIA/AZERBAIJAN
Hostilities over the Nagorny Karabakh issue ended in 1994. However, despite many rounds of
negotiations
organized under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk group, the parties involved in the conflict have
still not
settled their territorial disputes. The conflict has also left a heavy legacy in terms of lives
uprooted: some
350,000 refugees from Azerbaijan are still living in Armenia, while Azerbaijan has about half a
million
internally displaced people and nearly 170,000 refugees from Armenia. This bleak picture is
exacerbated
by severe economic problems and internal political tensions. Apart from focusing on its
traditional
protection work for detainees and civilians, the ICRC plans to develop a number of carefully
targeted relief
programmes for people suffering hardship as a result of conflict.
Protection of Detainees and Vulnerable Civilians
1996 saw the release under ICRC supervision of 110 detainees it had been visiting in connection
with the
conflict in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorny Karabakh The ICRC will keep up its efforts to
gain access
to any remaining detainees and obtain their release as required by international humanitarian law.
In Armenia, the ICRC visits detainees held in places of detention under the jurisdiction of the
Ministries
of the Interior and of National Security, including some 40 people not detained in connection
with the
Nagorny Karabakh conflict. Delegates also visited 15 newly arrested Kurdish detainees.
Following the
dozens of arrests made in the aftermath of the Armenian presidential elections in September and
the ensuing
disturbances, the ICRC has been called upon to extend its protection to these new detainees. In
Azerbaijan,
delegates resumed visits in July to a detention camp in Baku where they registered and followed
up the
cases of 12 people of Armenian origin. The ICRC also seeks to gain access to security detainees
held in
connection with the internal situation in the country.
The ICRC keeps a close watch on the situation of civilians, and particularly minority groups, and
endeavours to prevail on the authorities to prevent harassment and discrimination. When
protection efforts
fail, the ICRC arranges the transfer of people between the countries in the region.
Restoring Family Links
Throughout the conflict and its aftermath, Red Cross messages have been the only means of
communication
between detainees and their relatives, and for families who have been separated by the hostilities.
Between
January and September 1996, the ICRC handled 4,000 messages. Many families are still looking
for
relatives who remain unaccounted for as a result of the conflict. The ICRC submits their requests
for
information on missing people to the Armenian, Azeri and Karabakhi authorities, with the aim of
obtaining
their cooperation in shedding light on the fate of the missing. To date, over 2,050 requests have
been
collected
Spreading Knowledge of International Humanitarian Law (IHL)
One of the ICRC's main aspirations is to convince members of the armed forces of the need to
observe
basic humanitarian rules in combat. Ultimately, such instruction should be made a compulsory
part of
military training. A dissemination/first-aid programme for the armed forces is going on in
Armenia, and
in Azerbaijan sessions are frequently organized for units under the jurisdiction of the Ministries of
the
Interior and Defence, and for the border guards.The ICRC is also carrying out an extensive
schools
programme in Armenia, Nagorny Karabakh and Azerbaijan aimed at making children aware of
the basic
principles underlying humanitarian law and Red Cross and Red Crescent values. Universities,
where future
leaders are trained, are another priority audience. The ICRC's mine awareness campaign in
Azerbaijan's
front-line districts, carried out in cooperation with the Swedish Red Cross, is aimed at helping the
population avoid land mine accidents.
Health Activities
The ICRC's medical activities in Armenia focus on the detainee population, for whom
tuberculosis is a
major health hazard. An anti-tuberculosis project is planned for 1997. In Azerbaijan, the ICRC
has
provided medical assistance to five hospitals when needs were not met by the authorities, and
has
monitored 11 medical facilities treating people with conflict-related injuries, with a view to
assisting them
if needed. The ICRC's tuberculosis control project in a prison hospital in Baku, apart from
providing
treatment for 300 prisoners, is designed to set an example of how the disease can be dealt with
effectively.
In Nagorny Karabakh, the ICRC assists seven medical facilities treating the war-wounded in
front-line
districts and provides medicines and essential supplies to 15 civilian dispensaries. A project aimed
at
reducing child mortality caused by acute respiratory diseases and diarrhoea is in preparation. The
ICRC
also has an orthopaedic programme for war amputees in Baku. Projects for the rehabilitation of
water-supply and sanitation installations are planned for four north-eastern border regions of
Armenia. In
the Fizuli district (Azerbaijan) and in Nagorny Karabkah, the ICRC has well rehabilitation
programmes
providing renewed access to drinking water for displaced people and local residents.
Relief Activities
The ICRC's relief project, carried out by the American Red Cross in cooperation with the
Armenian Red
Cross, has benefited some 9,000 families living in 17 villages near Armenia's border with
Azerbaijan this
year. Plans for 1997 focus on rehabilitating agricultural activity and restoring a degree of
self-sufficiency
to the population. In addition, back-up distributions of food are foreseen. In Azerbaijan the ICRC
concentrates its relief efforts on 11,000 vulnerable and displaced families living in eight front-line
districts
bordering Armenia and Nagorny Karabakh. Except in the Fizuli district, the programmes are
carried out
by the American Red Cross in the form of a project delegation. Future assistance will, wherever
possible,
take the form of agricultural rehabilitation. In some of the districts, the ICRC is planning to set
up soup
kitchens for the most destitute people and provide assistance enabling poor families to send their
children
to school. The "Teamwork" programme in Nagorny Karabakh combines immediately effective
emergency
aid and longer-term rehabilitation measures benefiting some 3,000 families.
Cooperation with the National Societies
The ICRC aims to help the National Societies build up their capacities in the fields of
dissemination and
restoration of family links, for which it provides material support and training, and associates
them in its
relief work. A first-aid training programme for both Armenian Red Cross and Azeri Red Crescent
volunteers is in progress in front-line and border districts. In 1997 the ICRC will finance the
treatment in
an Armenian Red Cross hospital of 30 patients from Nagorny Karabakh who suffer from spinal
cord
injuries.
GEORGIA
The troubled years that followed after Georgia obtained independence in 1991 are now past.
However, a
solution to the dispute over the status of Abkhazia, which led to armed conflict between Georgia
and
Abkhazia in 1993, is still not in sight, and severe economic problems persist. In Abkhazia itself,
rampant
crime and violence pose serious problems, especially for minorities.
Protection of Detainees and Minorities
In Georgia, delegates visit, in accordance with customary ICRC procedures, people held for
conflict-related and security reasons. In Abkhazia the ICRC registers all detainees of Georgian
origin. So
far this year, delegates have conducted 39 visits to 27 places of detention. They saw 225
detainees,
including 130 newly registered people. As tuberculosis is a major problem in places of detention,
the ICRC
plans to launch a pilot programme in a prison hospital. Delegates have also visited and registered
people
held as hostages on both the Georgian and the Abkhaz sides, and strive to obtain the help of the
authorities
in preventing hostage-taking. Furthermore, the ICRC endeavours to protect members of minority
groups
in Abkhazia from physical violence and other abusive practices, and helps them at their request
to join
relatives in Russia and Georgia.
Restoring Family Links
In the absence of postal services out of Abkhazia, the ICRC's extensive Red Cross message
network
remains an indispensable communication line. In 1996 some 7,600 family messages have been
exchanged
each month. Family reunifications are also carried out. The ICRC has proposed its help to the
Georgian
and Abkhaz authorities in shedding light on the fate of people missing as a result of the conflict.
It has
initiated cooperation with the tracing service of the Georgian Red Cross, which will include
financial and
material assistance.
Dissemination Programmes for the Armed Forces, Schools and Universities
Training Georgian, Abkhaz and Russian troops stationed on the front lines in the basics of
international
humanitarian law has remained a priority for the ICRC. The most challenging task, however, has
been to
integrate a humanitarian message in its protection activities for the civilian population in
Abkhazia.
Programmes for schools and universities are well under way.
Health Activities
The ICRC assists hospitals treating the war-wounded in western Georgia and Abkhazia. It also
provides
support to medical facilities in the Sukhumi district, enabling staff to carry out home visits. In
1997 support
for medical facilities which organize home care for elderly and disabled people will be increased.
In the
event of large numbers of displaced people returning to the Gali district (western Georgia), a
major water
and sanitation operation may be in order. The ICRC has two orthopaedic projects for the
war-disabled in
Tbilisi and Gagra (Abkhazia).
Relief Activities
The ICRC's relief programme remains focused on 68,000 vulnerable people in Abkhazia. Apart
from
distributing assistance, the ICRC supports 20 public kitchens in various ways, including the
provision of
fresh products obtained through its local agricultural programme. It is also monitoring the
situation of
displaced people and civilians in the Zugdidi and Tsalenjika districts and in South Ossetia.
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES.
THE OPERATION
In 1997 the International Federation and National Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies of Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia will continue provision of emergency assistance to the most vulnerable
groups of
the population, affected by the consequences of conflict situation, disintegration of the Soviet
Union and
transition to a market economy.
The emphasis will gradually shift from distribution of relief supplies to the activities aimed at
building
sustainability of vulnerable population, rehabilitation of health and social infrastructure, capacity
building
of the National Societies. Most of the planned activities are designed to ensure country-wide
coverage of
the needs of the most vulnerable.
Specific programmes will be implemented in the major urban centres, in Southern-Eastern part of
Azerbaijan (Southern Camps for internally displaced persons), Western Georgia (internally
displaced) and
in areas affected by 1988 Spitak earthquake in Armenia.
The main target groups are: old people living alone, internally displaced persons, chronically sick
long-
term patients in the institutions (Psychiatric, TB, etc.), children (mainly in the institutions), most
vulnerable
still suffering from the consequences of natural disasters (Armenia) and the severely handicapped
THE RESPONSE SO FAR
Executive authorities of all three countries have continuously made efforts to facilitate
humanitarian
intervention of the International Federation. The governments of all three countries signed Status
Agreement with the International Federation, which substantially facilitated its humanitarian
activities in
the region.
The authorities of Azerbaijan took important decision to allocate land to the IDPs living in the
Southern
Camps which allowed the Federation to expand its support and to achieve at least partial food
self-sufficiency for 45,000 IDPs.
The International Federation and National Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies of Armenia,
Azerbaijan and
Georgia continued to provide humanitarian assistance in 1996 through the variety of programmes
to a large
number of beneficiaries. 105,000 lonely aged pensioners received more than 300,000 food
parcels -
60,000 of them were supported with a special winter kits. 150,000 internally displaced received
food and
hygienic items on a monthly basis. 145,000 chronically sick patients in the hospitals, orphanages
and special
boarding schools received regular assistance in terms of food, hygienic items and medicaments.
Special
attention was given to children - more than 200,000 of them were helped in the campaign against
intestinal
and skin parasitic diseases.
The International Federation and the National Societies have been increasingly concerned over
the
re-emergence of several infectious diseases in the region, such as diphtheria, tuberculosis,
malaria. A
multi-faceted campaign against malaria was implemented in 1996 jointly by the Azerbaijan Red
Crescent
and the Federation in 4 districts in the South of Azerbaijan, targeting over 200,000 people (both
local
residents and the IDPs in the camps).
The total of CHF 28,600,000 was received in response to 1996 Federation Appeal representing a
coverage
of 99.6 percent of the programme requirements. CHF 17,970,000 were received from ECHO
which
represents 63 percent of all contributions received in response to 1996 Federation Transcaucasus
Appeal.
Federation operations in the Caucasus are closely coordinated with other humanitarian agencies
working
in the region. Specific attention is given to the coordination of activities with UN agencies and
the ICRC.
THE NEEDS TO BE MET
In 1996 the British Red Cross in partnership with the Federation and National Red Cross /Red
Crescent
Societies undertook an assessment "Vulnerability in Transitional Societies. Vulnerability and
Capacity
Assessment for Transcaucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia"Beneficiary survey was also
undertaken in
1996 by Georgia Delegation. Regular assessments of needs were conducted by Armenia and
Azerbaijan
Delegations.
One of the important conclusions of "Vulnerability in Transitional Societies" assessment is that
while in
times of acute emergency, a reasonably straightforward judgement can be made on those who do
and those
who do not require immediate assistance. However, the more chronic and more complex the
environment,
the more complex becomes the judgement.
The planned relief and rehabilitation programmes listed in the plan of action for 1997 are based
on existing
successful operations, and expand into areas where additional needs are seen to exist.
In general, the greatest needs of the population continue to fall into three categories: food,
energy and
health, though a lack of housing and sanitation are also worsening the problems for many. The
shortage
of supply and the high price of food is an ongoing problem in all three countries, especially in the
winter.
The situation is similar for electricity and heating fuel. With electric power in the winter often
restricted
to several hours per day, and the price of heating fuel way above the means of most people, the
population
endured the long winter months in the dark and cold. State health care provision is grossly
underfunded
at present and in a state of near collapse. Based upon these needs , the Federation plans a broad
operation
in 1997 to provide support in the food, energy, health, social welfare and housing sectors.
FEDERATION/NATIONAL SOCIETIES OBJECTIVES
- to assist the most vulnerable groups of the population, affected by the ongoing transition
of the societies to the new socio-economic system and by unresolved conflict situations in
the region, with the provision of emergency relief supplies, like food, medicaments,
shelters, heating fuel, etc.
- to assist the same group of beneficiaries in enhancing their coping capacity to sustain
critical living conditions through improving shelters
- to change gradually from relief operation to rehabilitation and development through
income generating measures and agricultural programmes as an instrument to promote
self-sustainability of the beneficiaries and the National Societies
- to intensify efforts for assisting in capacity building of the National Societies to enable
them to replace the management and resource base of the Federation in the region as of
1998-99.
FEDERATION/NATIONAL SOCIETY PLAN OF ACTION
FOR
1997
Budget Item
| Estimated Number of
Beneficiaries
| | Armenia
| | Relief
| | Institutional feeding (long-term patients in hospitals, etc)
| 10,000
| | Renovation of health institutions
| 5,000
| | Socially vulnerable / Lonely elderly (food and non-food items)
| 10,000
| | Continuous improvement of living conditions in 1988
earthquakes areas
| 1,500
| |
Health
| | Campaign against STDs
| 20,000
| | Community health in remote villages
| 8,000
| | International Post-Traume Rehabilitation Centre (IPTRC)
| 500
| | Azerbaijan
| | Relief
| | Internally displaced / Southern camps (food, shelter, health)
| 45,000
| | Socially vulnerable / Lonely elderly (30,000 beneficiaries)
| 30,000
| | Health
| | Anti-malaria campaign (southern camps)
| 20,000
| | Basic health care (southern camps)
|
| | Medicaments for chronically ill elderly
| 25,000
| |
Georgia
| | Relief
| | Socially vulnerable /Lonely elderly (food assistance)
| 50,000
| | Institutional feeding (long-term patients in hospital, etc)
| 10,000
| | Renovation of health institutions
| 5,000
| | Renovation of IDP collective accommodation
| 5,000
| | Health
| | Prevention of STDs
| 35,000
| | Medicines for chronically ill elderly
| 25,000
| | Medicines for patients suffering from chronic psychiatric and
neurological disorder
| 45,000
| | Social mobilisation for immunisation campaign
| n/a
| | REGIONAL PROGRAMMES (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia)
| | Visiting Nurses Programme |
12,000
| |
Institutional development |
N/A
| |
First Aid Programme in the Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies |
N/A
| |
Capacity building of the National Societies in the region |
N/A
| |
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS
Total Federation's budget requirements for 1997 are estimated at the level of CHF 21,000,000.
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
| AAA | Armenian Assembly of America (NGO)
|
| ADRA | Adventist Development and Relief Agency (NGO)
|
| ARI | Acute Respiratory Infections
|
| ASIF | Armenian Social Investment Fund
|
| CARE | Cooperative Assistance and Relief Everywhere (NGO)
|
| CBIHA | Georgia's Coordination Bureau for International Humanitarian Aid
|
| CDHR | Armenia's Centre for Democracy and Human Rights
|
| CEDC | Children in Especially Difficult Circumstances
|
| CIS | Commonwealth of Independent States
|
| CLAU | WFP's Caucasus Logistics Advisory Unit
|
| CRS | Catholic Relief Services (NGO)
|
| DD | Diarrhoeal Disease
|
| DHA | Department of Humanitarian Affairs
|
| ECHO | European Commission Humanitarian Office
|
| EU | European Union
|
| FAO | United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization
|
| FCU | DHA's Field Coordination Unit
|
| FFW | Food-For-Work
|
| GTZ | sche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit, or
German Society for Technical Cooperation (NGO)
|
| ICRC | International Committee of the Red Cross
|
| IDP | Internally Displaced Person
|
| IFRC | International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
|
| IOM | International Organisation for Migration
|
| IMF | International Monetary Fund
|
| IMR | Infant Mortality Rate
|
| MCH | Maternal and Child Health
|
| OSCE | Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe
|
| PHC | Primary Health Care
|
| SCF | Save the Children Federation (NGO)
|
| SCRR | Azerbaijan's State Commission for Reconstruction and Rehabilitation
|
| SHF | Georgia's State Health Fund
|
| STD | Sexually-Transmitted Disease
|
| TACIS | EU's Technical Assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent States
|
| TB | Tuberculosis
|
| UMCOR | United Methodist Committee on Relief (NGO)
|
| UNDP | United Nations Development Programme
|
| UNESCO | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
|
| UNFPA | United Nations Population Fund
|
| UNHCR | United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
|
| UNICEF | United Nations Children's Fund
|
| USAID | United States for International Development
|
| WFP | World Food Programme
|
| WHO | World Health Organization
|
DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS (DHA)
New York Office
United Nations
New York, NY 10017
USA
Telephone:(1 212) 963.5713
Telefax:(1 212) 963.1388
Geneva Office
Palais des Nations
1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Telephone:(41 22)788.6381
Telefax: (41 22)788.7616
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