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HR news |
The situation in the tent camps in Ingushetia and
in the temporary residence facilities in Grozny
(autumn 2003)
17.12.2003
The intention of the Russian authorities to return civilians, who fled Chechnya during the military campaign back to the republic became obvious in February 2001. Since then the migration services have exerted systematic pressure on the residents of tent camps in Ingushetia, pressing them to return home. However, in spite of the hard living conditions in tents, IDPs had been reluctant to leave Ingushetia, naming two main obstacles to their return: lack of security and destroyed housing. The attempts to return were exhilarated in the end of the summer-start of the fall 2003, before the elections of the President of the Chechen Republic. By the end of October the republican Migration Service for the first time had achieved success: the number of applications submitted had exceeded their transport capacities to move people back to Chechnya. This had an immediate effect upon IDPs, the pressure had been relieved, and in the nearest future it is unlikely to be reinvigorated: the migration services will have to fulfil the plan of transporting the families who have already applied.
I. The dynamics of return of IDPs from tent camps in Ingushetia to Chechnya
In November 2003 most actively returned the residents of camps "Alina" and "Bart". The dynamics is well illustrated by the following table based on the data of UNHCR on the number of residents of tent camps in Ingushetia (September-October 2003).
| Camp: | As of 10.11.03. | As of 10.10.03. | As of 30.09.03. |
| "Àlina" | 1 182 | 1 353 | 2 443 |
| "Satsita" | 3 340 | 3 438* | 3 198 |
| "Sputnik" | 2 669 | 2 906 | 3 171 |
| "Bart" | 1 342 | 1 626 | 2 014 |
* The increase of the figure relative to September is due to the liquidation of "Bela" camp. IDPs from "Bela" have been resettled to "Satsita".
According to the Migration Service, in the end of November 956 persons (113 tents) remained in "Alina", compared to 3184 persons residing there in November 2002.
Significant increase in the dynamic of return can be explained by two main factors:
1. The pressure exerted on IDPs in September-October 2003
The most effective methods of pressure were: gas and electricity cut-offs, several months long delays in distribution of relief aid, random exclusion of individual citizens and entire families from the humanitarian aid distribution lists. Psychological pressure included: warnings that those who failed to return on time would lose their right to state assistance in their return, threats to regard as combatants everyone who does not return, threats to forcibly close the camps.
According to the our monitors, the closure of "Bela" had a strongest psychological impact on the IDPs from other camps, particularly from the tents camp "Alina". To avoid the fate of "Bela" residents, IDPs from "Alina" have en masse applied for return.
At the same time the Migration services offered all possible assistance to the IDPs, who stated their intention to move. The incentives included: promises to foot the indebtedness for humanitarian aid on the day of their return to Chechnya, priority treatment in receiving compensations for the destroyed households.
2. Creation of new temporary residence facilities (TRF) on the territory of Chechnya
To implement the resettlement plan, starting August 2003 the reconstruction works were launched on the buildings, intended for the temporary residence facilities in Chechnya. In the second half of October, 8 objects were opened for IDPs, with the capacity of 6,000 persons. Thus, one of the two main obstacles for the return (destroyed housing), according to the authorities' declarations, had been eliminated.
II. The situation in the tent camps of Ingushetia
In November the situation in the tent camps remained calm. The pressure on IDPs authorities had been ceased. The IDPs, who refused to move to Chechnya were offered places in Malgobek district of Ingushetia, however, most families were reluctant to settle in this far away district. Humanitarian aid in the camps was provided by Migration Services, the Danish Refugee Council, Islamic Relief, International Red Cross Committee. The situation with the IDPs from the closed camp "Bela" remains confusing. The residents of this camp "disappeared" from the humanitarian lists of Migration Services, they do not receive any aid.
The situation with the liquidation of debt for humanitarian aid remains unresolved. The IDPs returning from Chechnya did receive the aid for the previous months, however, not for all months, as had been promised, but for the last two. The returning IDPs were denied the priority treatment in compensating their losses for the damaged housing.
In November, the news of the inadequate conditions in the temporary residence facilities in Chechnya reached Ingushetia. The TPFs, which the authorities had previously announced to be ready for people, in fact required a lot of work; living there represented a direct threat to the health of the people. This caused anxiety among the IDPs, who applied for return. Many of them decided to withdraw their applications. However, the representatives of migration services announced that this was not possible.
III. The situation in the temporary residence facilities (TRFs) in Grozny
The reconstruction works on the premises, intended for temporary residence facilities were launched in the start of August 2003 in the situation of high emergency. The construction workers were given very tight deadlines: in a little more than one month before the elections they had to finish the works. To fulfil the task the teams worked round the clock, but even such efforts invested they failed to finish on time. Regardless of this, in the second half of September the authorities of the Chechen Republic announced that the facilities were ready to accept IDPs. As a result, people moved into the buildings which failed to meet even minimal standards for living; long-term presence there would be ruinous for the health of IDPs.
The residence conditions in the TRF in Grozny
1. Heating
For different reasons, by the beginning of the heating season none of the eight new and most of the previously functioning TRFs was provided with heat.
Thus, in TRF, located at Derzhavina, 289 (Staropromyslovky district) the works on the system of heating was still under construction. The rooms have dampened. Low temperatures forced many families to move out for a while and stay with their relatives. In respect of such families, disciplinary sanctions have been applied: the Migration Services issued the so-called Eviction Acts; three of those deprive the family of its right to temporary housing.
TRFs, located at Kol'tsova 1 and Kol'tsova 4 have been equipped with the German-produced heating systems. These systems require sufficient gas pressure and electric power. Gas to TRF is delivered from the residential areas and its quantity is insufficient for the equipment to work. Frequent electricity cut-offs last for 2-3 days. But even when the electricity is supplied, the heating system cannot be effectuated, since the electric power in the buildings never reaches the minimal necessary level. To solve the problem with heating, a new gas pipe should be laid and diesel electricity engines installed in the buildings.
In TRF at Koltsova 2-3 the situation is better. The heating system has been built, however, because of the low electric power the temperatures in the boilers never raise above 50? with the minimal necessary 80?. For this reason the rooms in the building are cold.
The problems with heating are urgent in TRF at Malgobekskaya street 11, where the heating likewise works on electric power.
In November in TRF at Novatorov street, 17 the heating system was out of order.
2. Water supply
None of the new TRF has water supply systems or specially equipped water vessels for drinking water. In many of TRFs the IDPs use technical barrels for storing the drinking water. The families try to bring water from the nearby wells. Thus, for example, the residents of TRF at Malgobekskaya, street 11 bring water from the well, located 300 meters away from their home, they have to stand long lines and face the irritation of the people from the residential areas.
3. Electricity and Gas
Electricity is supplied to all TRFs, however, the power is very low. For this reason when the gas is off electric heaters cannot be used for cooking.
Gas is supplied to all TRFs, but the cut offs are frequent, without preliminary warning of the population.
4. Sanitary-hygienic conditions
Canalization, laundry and showers are absent in all the newly opened TRF. Due to the absence of plumbing system and canalization, the citizens have not only to carry drinking water to up to 9th floors, but to bring down used water. In many new TRFs the discharge sinks do not function even in the kitchens. Such is the situation in the TRF, located in Dudaev Boulevard, 15/4 and TRF at Malgobekskaya street, 11.
The absence of shower rooms and laundries created impossible hygienic conditions in many TRFs. The buildings are very overcrowded, big families live in small rooms, thus, there are no conditions for taking showers, washing and drying clothes. In one TRF at Koltsova 1, the commandant turned one of the bedrooms into a laundry.
After 10 p.m. the toilets, located outside of the buildings, cannot be accessed (TRFs are closed from 22 to 6), which causes physical suffering to the residents, particularly to the children and aged.
The problem of waste management is urgent. The garbage containers are non-existent, the waste is disposed near the residence facilities. The municipal waste management is badly organized; the garbage remains disposed for longer periods of time.
In many TRFs underground waters have raised above the usual level. For this reason the ground floors of the facilities have specific unpleasant smell.
5. Medical and humanitarian aid. Education.
In some of the new TRFs the medical ambulances are not functioning (eg. TRF, located at Malgobekskaya street, 11 and Derzhavina street, 289). The people living there have no access to the first medical aid.
According to the medical personnel of TRF at Koltsova street the number of patients with catarrhal diseases has drastically increased due to low temperatures in the rooms and the dampness. In the first 19 days October, over 70 persons turned for medical aid, mostly elders and the children. Medical personnel and the pharmaceuticals come from the municipal hospital # 3. Sometimes the medical aid is offered by the Center of Medical Catastrophes.
Food is mostly distributed by Migration Services (MS). The frequency of distribution and its quality varies. Generally, the humanitarian aid is distributed with significant delays. The IDP' s complain about the quality of the tinned meat and of condensed milk. In their words, tinned meat cannot be consumed. The opinion of one lady-resident of TRF is suggestive in this respect: "We are all being cooked here in one pot with the army and with militia, but they are given tinned meat and we are getting "Whiskas". Clear, we are second-rate people!".
As of 19.11.03 in TRF at Koltsova street 3 the IDPs had not received humanitarian aid. They arrived in Grozny in the middle of October.
The food package per person for10 days issued on November 20 in TRF at Mayakovskogo street, 111: 1) tinned meat (one can) 2) sugar (800) 3) vegetable oil (1 bottle, 900 grams), 4) buckwheat (3 kilos), 5) rice (2 kg).
The humanitarian organizations provide very little assistance. Bread, which has to be distributed daily (half a loaf per person), arrives very irregularly. People complain about its quality and staleness. According to IDPs, living at Novatorov 17, in their TRF bread is distributed at best 3-4 times a month.
The continuity of the educational process for children has not been organized. First, there is no agreement between the republican authorities and the schools about admissions. Consequently, because of the overload, the schools refuse to accept newly arriving kids. Second, before leaving Ingushetia, the schoolchildren had to return their books to the school libraries, in Chechnya new books are not being given to them. Parents cannot afford to buy books for the children. Many children do not attend school because of the large educational gaps - results of refugee life- or because they have no warm clothes to wear.
Security
In October HRC "Memorial" registered three cases of armed assault on the TRFs in Grozny.
October 2, 2003 at night a group of military servicemen ( about 7 persons) committed an armed assault on the TRF, located at Mayakovskogo street, 119. Having beaten up the security guards, the military servicemen captured their guns: a machine gun, 2 pistols, radio set and their professional IDs. The servicemen did not take any action against the IDPs. However, the IDPs spent all night in fear waiting for their return. The local prosecution office opened a criminal case and started investigation procedures.
The same night 2/3 October 2003 a newly opened TRF, located in Grozny, Derzhavina street, 289 was encircled by the military servicemen in masks. Some of them entered the building, checked the premises inside and checked the passports of the individual civilians. Having asked whether there were strangers in the building, they disappeared. IDPs spent the nights in anxiety and fear.
The last incident happened at night on October 31, 2003. At about 10 p.m. a group of about 8 armed persons entered the TRF located in Malgobekskaya street, 11. All of them were dressed in the camouflage uniforms, and hid their faces under masks. They beat up the security guards and captured their guns. Luckily, the residents of the TRF were not affected.
6. The psychological state of the IDP
According to our monitors, the psychological state of the IDPs is low-spirited, many of them regret their returned and fear the prospects of winter in the inadequate conditions of TRFs.
