The new Ingush Government is determined to speed up the return of Chechen refugees to their homeland. Although life in refugee camps in Ingushetia is far from a durable solution, Chechen refugees are unwilling to head back for Chechnya due to the problems of surviving severe winter conditions in minimal and non-winterized houses, serious security concerns and non-existence of infrastructure.

Furthermore, camps in Chechnya proper are being closed by Russian authorities forcing Chechen IDPs to settle either with relatives and friends or ‘temporary accommodation’ in the Grozny area. The security situation is further exacerbating already difficult working conditions for international and local NGOs, in addition to lack of public and financial support for their humanitarian actions.

One of the ACT members with a foothold in Chechnya, Hungarian Interchurch Aid (HIA) seeks urgent financial support in order to provide life-saving aid to Chechen IDPs who were forced out of the camps.

HIA will deliver the aid in the following manner:

• distribution of family food parcels for IDPs
• opening of soup kitchens for IDPs
• reconstruction and equipment for kindergartens for internally displaced children

ACT International is calling for an immediate attention and urgent support for this cause.

ACT International will soon call an emergency meeting with its implementing and funding members to discuss humanitarian plans and strategies for Chechnya.

Project Completion Date: 31 July 2003

Signed by:
Thor-Arne Prois, ACT Director
Geneviève Jacques, Director of Programme, World Council of Churches
Robert Granke, Director, Department for World Service, Lutheran World Federation

For full details of proposals and budgets, please click below to download a PDF file of the entire Appeal.

North Caucasus/Chechnya - Assistance to IDPs in Chechnya - EUNC31 (file size: 44 Kb)

To view a PDF file, you need the Acrobat Reader software, which can be downloaded free of charge from:

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/acrwin.html