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Russia

Danish Refugee Council Mission Report, Feb 2005


Mission Statement

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a nongovernmental humanitarian organization working for durable solutions for forced migrants in Denmark and 17 other countries. In the Russian Federation DRC has been operating since 1997. The goal of DRC in the Russian Federation is protection and the promotion of durable solutions to refugee and displacement problems in the North Caucasus, on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. This goal is sought realized through the following objectives:

Objective 1: Assist conflict affected populations in the North Caucasus to meet their relief needs.

Objective 2: Promote the establishment of sustainable livelihoods for those in the process of return or integration in the North Caucasus, based on their own capacities and resources.

Objective 3: Assist the displaced in the North Caucasus who are unable or unwilling to return to achieve a basic level of dignity in their lives.

General Overview

Having two offices in Moscow and Nazran, DRC runs a large humanitarian assistance program in the Northern Caucasus in partnership with United Nations, the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) Department and the governments of Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Sweden and Great Britain. DRC is carrying out activities in food-aid, shelter rehabilitation, registration, mine risk education and socioeconomic rehabilitation in Chechnya, Ingushetia, Dagestan and North Ossetia. Furthermore, DRC facilitates the development of the “Caucasus NGO Networking Initiative” with its sister offices in South Caucasus.

Numbers and Characteristics of the Target Group

As of February 28, 2005, there were 33,659 IDPs (7,517 households) from Chechnya's 2nd conflict - displaced in Ingushetia. All IDPs are eligible for basic food aid through the WFP pipeline. The number of IDPs decreased by 879 persons in February (compared to 34,538 IDPs in January 2005). The majority of the IDPs in Ingushetia (4,910 households) live in the private sector, while 2,607 households reside in temporary settlements such as public buildings or cattle sheds, scattered throughout Ingushetia. This month, 248 IDPs registered their return to Chechnya with DRC.

Of the approximately 33,659 IDPs in Ingushetia, the vulnerable strata according to UNHCR criteria constitute 3,153 individuals, including pregnant and lactating women, children under 3 years old, the disabled, elderly people without adequate social support, orphans and children from single-parent homes.


IDPs in Ingushetia (DRC statistics as of February 28, 2005):
Gender
>1999
<=1999 - >1987
<=1987 - >1944
<=1944
Total
%
Female
1 445
4 796
10 678
1 458
18 377
54,6%
Male
1 473
4 837
8 171
801
15 282
45,4%
Total
2 918
9 633
18 849
2 259
33 659
100,0%
%
8,67%
28,62%
56,00%
6,71%
100,0%

DRC registered population in Chechnya (DRC statistics as of February 28, 2005):
Gender
>1999
<=1999 - >1987
<=1987- >1944
<=1944
Total
%
Female
25 818
85 889
192 519
35 016
339 242
53,0%
Male
26 464
87 648
164 472
22 608
301 192
47,0%
Total
52 282
173 537
356 991
57 624
640 434
100,0%
%
8,16%
27,10%
55,74%
9,00%
100,0%

As of February 28, DRC's registration database in relevant districts of Chechnya totaled 640,434 individuals, (compared to 637,186 in January 2005) of the approximately 1 million population of Chechnya (government figures). Of these 640,434, approximately 220,00 individuals are eligible for basic food and non-food aid (according to DRC beneficiary selection criteria).

In Dagestan, DRC registers IDPs from Chechnya living in four districts: Kizlyarskiy, Nogayskiy, Tarumovskiy and Khasavyurtovskiy. Operating in North Ossetia, DRC does not keep its own database but relies on figures provided by the Migration Services and UNHCR.

DRC Program

Relief Activities

Food Aid

Ingushetia: In February 2005, DRC provided basic food aid to approximately 96% of the qualified IDPs (as compared to 97% in January 2005). Thus, at the start of the distribution cycle, DRC planned to distribute WFP food aid commodities to 31,760 beneficiaries (compared with 32,598 in January). DRC actually served 30,652 (compared with 31,790 in January) beneficiaries. Beneficiaries received a complete food ration: wheat flour - 10 kg, sugar - 0.600 kg, oil - 1 liter, salt - 0.150 kg. Chechnya and Dagestan: In February, DRC completed the bi-monthly ECHO food distribution cycle as planned. DRC served 118,237 vulnerable individuals in Chechnya and Dagestan, through the ECHO food pipeline. IDPs returning to Chechnya from Ingushetia, are eligible for a three-month's ration of basic food (WFP pipeline), streamlined into regularly scheduled distributions in Chechnya. According to DRC data, 2,700 recent returnees were scheduled to receive basic food aid in Chechnya, through DRC and other WFP partners. School Feeding in Chechnya: Through the WFP School Feeding program, DRC provided rice, buckwheat, sugar, oil, iodized salt and vitamin rich biscuits to 19,144 children in Chechen schools and kindergartens. The goal of the program is to provide basic nutrition to schoolchildren through hot meals every school-day, and improving attendance and academic performance. DRC/WFP School Feeding project covers Staropromyslovskiy district in Grozny and the entire Shali district.

Non Food in Chechnya

In February, DRC completed the post-distribution monitoring activities following the distribution of winterization items in the mountain villages of Chechnya (districts of Kurchaloy, Shali, Nozhay-Yurt and Vedeno).

Temporary Shelter

Under the agreement with (ECHO), DRC is continuing its work aimed at ensuring the availability of temporary shelter for IDPs in Ingushetia. The current project, set to last until June 16, envisages the provision of 96 temporary shelter units (so-called box-tents) in addition to the repair of a significant number of rooms in temporary settlements. In February, 6 temporary settlements were identified for shelter repair; the final selection will be made in March after consolation with UNHCR.

Recovery activities

Physical Rehabilitation

In Ingushetia, with UNHCR funding, DRC will construct 20 houses for IDPs from Chechnya, wishing to integrate. Three out of these 20, the poorest and most vulnerable, will also receive assistance in form of workmen during the construction period. In February, DRC conducted preliminary selection of beneficiaries, and presently field monitors are checking the correctness of data specified by applicants in the field. It is expected that representatives of the government of Ingushetia will take part in the final selection. In Chechnya, DRC targets returnees, individuals displaced within the republic and other conflict affected residents and local communities by providing selected households with construction materials for rehabilitation of their war-damaged houses. Besides, physical (gas, water systems) and social (schools) infrastructure units are included into the program every year. Under a two-year project, funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs that started in 2004, DRC is targeting households with heavily destroyed houses. 140 out of 235 houses included into the project have already been served. In February, the total number of beneficiary households rose up to 155, and the selection of additional 60 families started. The project is being implemented in Samashki and Orekhovo villages (Achkhoy-Martan District) and in Itum-Kali District. Also, the basic water system will be improved in Samashki and two schools in Grozny (## 32, 44) will be rehabilitated. The project funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs/NRC covers Chechnya and North Ossetia-Alania and aims at supporting durable solutions, being reintegration of returnees or integration of refugees in North Ossetia-Alania through provision of construction materials. In total, by end of April 2005, 134 households will have benefited. Apart from this, DRC finalizes rehabilitation of the hostel of Vladikavkaz Electronic College: the sewage system was replaced and a room is being modified for a disabled student from Chechnya. The post-monitoring of the two-year project implemented with the Netherlands' Ministry of Foreign Affairs funds continues. 167 households in Chechnya received building materials in 2004 to rehabilitate their private houses. Besides, about 4000 residents of the republic are now profiting from gas and water systems' reconstruction projects. The project covered villages of Serzhen-Yurt, Duba-Yurt (Shali District) and Goyskoye (Urus-Martan District).

Community Development

Community development functions as a small-grants program to community organizations, providing social services to IDPs and mobilizing communities in Chechnya, Ingushetia and North Ossetia The month of February was dedicated to closure and reporting on the Quick Impact Projects funded by UNHCR in 2004. 15 projects ranging from small-scale infrastructure rehabilitation (water projects) to income generating and training have been implemented in Ingushetia and Chechnya. Other community development projects (funded by Danida and the Dutch MFA) were followed up by the team that also prepared a list of 12 new proposals, for which funds will be allocated after a decision committee meeting in March. UNDP funded project is being implemented in colony of Vesna, Vladikavkaz City, North Ossetia-Alania to create income opportunities for a number of refugees / forced migrants from Georgia residing there, through small infrastructure work on the sewage system.

Psycho-Social Support

- the Beslan project that was running since November 04 and included support to victims of the hostage taking and training for staff of social institutions, was closed.

- in Chechnya the setting up of 4 new psychosocial centers is ongoing, in schools ## 8, 44 and 49 in Grozny and in a TAC in Oktyabrskiy District. - in Ingushetia DRC runs one psychosocial center in Sleptsovsk

Income Generating Activities

DRC is the only humanitarian agency that has been active in this field for several years. At present the IGA component is under the process of reviewing. The lists of loan takers are to be processed to identify the most vulnerable ones who will be transferred to the community development grant project. In total, starting from 1998, DRC dispatched 1486 loans to IDP beneficiaries. In Ingushetia and Chechnya 671 loans have been distributed to 3600 people starting from 2001. In 2005, DRC plans to transform its IGA unit into a local micro finance institution.

Higher Education Program

Despite local constraints due to not yet upgraded communication facilities in Chechnya, the project has achieved the majority of its objectives and is likely to continue in 2006. The possibilities of cooperation in the psycho-social field are now being considered (including practice opportunities for Danish students of psychology in the North Caucasus).

Local NGO Capacity Building

DRC works with Local NGOs in the North Caucasus on capacity building, technical support, collaboration and networking with the aim to enhance quality and effectiveness of NGO projects in IDP communities. 5 NGO projects on social rehabilitation of IDPs in Chechen Republic continue their activities while another 6 NGO projects were selected for future support during coming year: joint project of two NGOs from North Ossetia and 4 projects of NGOs from Chechen Republic. During February, works on establishing NGO Resource Center in Grozny were completed. The center will become operational as of March 1 and will serve about 20 NGOs from the western part of the Republic. NGO from Grozny finalized preparation of republic NGO meeting and seminar for 30 Chechen NGOs, which is planned for March.

Registration

DRC registration system was set up in 2000 to collect information on IDPs staying in Ingushetia and local population in Chechnya. This information served as a basis for food and non-food distributions conducted by DRC and other humanitarian agencies operating in the area. DRC established 3 Information Centers in Ingushetia and 6 in Chechnya. These nine DRC information centers maintain a rolling registration system for households in need of basic food and non-food assistance. Households can always apply for assistance, appeal a negative decision, or notify DRC of a change in their socio-economic status. The Information Centers also represent one of DRC's accountability tools, allowing for a complaints mechanism whereby beneficiaries and anyone else among the local population can file complaints and requests for assistance. Currently about 90% of the beneficiary feedback has been regarding the food and non-food registration system, and only 10% of the complaints concern other forms for assistance. Following a 2004 Humanitarian Accountability Project Review of DRC North Caucasus's complaints mechanisms, DRC will be working toward expanding the use of its Information Centers for increased beneficiary participation in program design and implementation in 2005. Ingushetia: In February 2005, nearly 900 displaced persons approached the DRC Information Centers (ICs). DRC accepted 368 written appeals for aid from IDPs. DRC Information Center staff conducted further consultations and counseling for 360 IDPs on issues of return, eligibility for humanitarian assistance, family reunification and technical separation of households (in the DRC database). In follow-up to aid appeals, and regular field verifications, DRC has visited a total of 1,020 IDP households in Ingushetia this month. Chechnya: In February 2005, over 7,000 persons addressed DRC Information Centers regarding eligibility for food aid and non-food aid, as well other types of assistance. Approximately 90% of the questions concerned basic food and non-food aid, and 10% of the constituency inquired about other types of assistance, such as shelter and income-generation, as well as general information.

Of these 7,000 consultations, DRC accepted 3,955 written applications for follow-up household verification by DRC mobile teams and made field visits to 3,023 households. In February 2005, as a result of verification activities DRC excluded 1,735 persons as non-eligible for food and non-food aid under the DRC criteria and reinstated 2,357 persons onto the beneficiary lists.

Mine Risk Education Program

In February, DDG instructors commenced Mine Risk Education campaign for general population, internally displaced people and returnees in Argun town of Chechnya. The campaign was first presented to representatives of local administration of the town, who welcomed and supported the idea of the project. Since the population of the town has never been a part of any large-scale MRE campaigns, they showed a very limited general knowledge of mines and UXO and of specific ways of behavior in mine-infested areas. According to the plan of action, which was developed in co-operation with the local administration, the instructors visited all schools in Argun and conducted MRE workshops in each class. The workshops included different interactive games, role-plays and visual aids. MRE workshops for adults were also conducted in TACs. The workshops were aimed to help the population identify different types of mines and UXOs and, consequently, to assess the level of danger. The program also taught the participants to how to determine the potentially mined areas and what to do if one finds himself in a minefield. It also included briefing on basic first aid to the victims of mines. In co-operation with schoolmasters special meetings with parents of schoolchildren were conducted in each school. Parents were instructed on how they should teach their children to keep safe from mines in a mined environment. To educate greater part of population, the instructors disseminated MRE messages at market places and a bus-station. Apart from oral information, all attendants of workshops received booklets, leaflets and calendars with warning messages. Posters with MRE messages were hung in each school, hospital, market places and bus-stations. 500 T-shirts with warning message were distributed for children in the temporary accommodation center. In all, 4.405 people received mine risk education in February 2005.

Assessments/Surveys

- IDP survey Ingushetia (UNHCR): DRC conducted a comprehensive survey of 6,634 IDP households (84% of the total IDP population in Ingushetia as of December 31, 2004) in November-December 2004. The results of the survey have been analyzed and will be released in late March 2005. The report will focus on protection and durable solutions for the target group.

- Survey in Ingushetia on recovery needs (UNDP): UNDP contracted DRC to conduct the household economy survey in the three district of Ingushetia with the aim to collect data that will support planning of the activities contributing to sustainable reintegration and recovery in the North Caucasus. In line with the UNDP area-based/comprehensive approach the survey encompassed displaced and local population living in the selected areas. The survey covered 6,426 households, or 34,298 persons. Field interviews were finalized on 25 February. The results will be available at the beginning of April

- Survey of IDPs from North Ossetia-Alania residing in temporary settlements in Ingushetia (Danida): DRC completed a survey of this IDP caseload at the end of February. The aim of the survey was to identify current needs as to support design of relief and recovery programs for this group.

Evaluations

The report on the HAP-I evaluation of DRC complaint mechanisms that took place in Nov-December 2004 was finalized. The report is available on HAP-I web page: http://www.hapinternational.org/en/page.php?IDpage=49&IDcat=12

A Danish consultant made mid-term evaluation of the Higher Education Program in the last week of February.

DRC Administration

Current Mission strength 7 international staff 330 permanently national staff

Staff training and seminars

In February, annual planning meetings were held in DRC recovery program departments, focusing on planning and progamme development.

Logistics and Procurement

DRC warehouses and transports over 2,000 metric tons of food aid every month for WFP, ECHO and other donors. DRC maintains several warehouses in Nazran with the total area of 11,334 m2, has storing facilities in Malgobek and Vladikavkaz, and employs over 200 trucks per month to transport food and non-food commodities to over 120 DRC field distributions in the region. DRC assures that all transportation is in compliance with organizational and donors' requirements. DRC takes all measures to quality assure transportation conditions to avoid commodity losses during delivery to DRC warehouses and distribution points.

More detailed information about DRC's activities can be obtained by contacting DRC's offices in Nazran and Moscow.