04.2008 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Instead of finding solutions for masses of IDPs in the region, Russian Migration Service and other responsible agencies simply de-register them from governmental assistance list ("Summary of the ACCORD-UNHCR Country of Origin Information Seminar on Chechnya; Vienna, 18 October 2007") [ID 22951]

"Russia’s inherent interest in stabilising the North Caucasus was also confirmed by a statement from President Putin in 2005 in the media, saying that he wanted the IDP problem to be solved. In the following two years, according to the Russian government, the number of IDPs in Ingushetia was reduced to 3,000. However, instead of finding solutions for the masses of IDPs in the region, the Russian Migration Service and other responsible agencies simply de-register them from the governmental assistance list. Today, according to international organisations, there are still about 15,000 people from Chechnya in Ingushetia."

Document(s): Open document

11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

At end of 2007, 13,853 IDPs from Chechnya were in temporary settlements or housing in private sector in Ingushetiya; 4,906 Chechens were in Dagestan, and approximately 30,000 elsewhere in the country ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22622]

"At year's end 13,853 IDPs from Chechnya were in temporary settlements or in housing in the private sector in Ingushetiya; 4,906 Chechens were in Dagestan, and approximately 30,000 Chechen IDPs reportedly were elsewhere in the country; and an estimated 8,718 Chechens were living as IDPs within Chechnya itself.

Officials stated publicly that they would not pressure or compel IDPs to return to Chechnya. However, the UNHCR reported that government officials stated their intention to deregister those IDPs who had received compensation from federal assistance lists and indicated that 52 families were deregistered in June 2005. Those who were deregistered faced the threat of eviction from their accommodations in temporary settlements, despite their willingness to pay for the accommodation. Although some of the inhabitants chose to remain in Ingushetiya, the UNHCR estimated that 70 to 75 percent chose to return to Chechnya despite the inadequacy of temporary lodging. For example, in August the government of Chechnya submitted to the UNHCR a list of 169 IDP families, largely from Ingushetiya, willing to return to Chechnya. The UNHCR reported that 1,141 IDPs returned to Chechnya from Ingushetiya this year."

Document(s): Open document

13.08.2007 - Source: Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (formerly Global IDP Project)

Several years after they left their homes, internally displaced people in the North Caucasus continue to live in very poor conditions ("Government efforts help only some IDPs rebuild their lives; A profile of the internal displacement situation") [ID 21202]

"In Ingushetia, approximately 25 per cent of the republic’s 15,384 IDPs were living in 76 TSs in mid-2007; the remaining 75 per cent were living in private housing (DRC, 31 July 2007). The majority of IDPs in Dagestan live in private rented accommodation, though some have spontaneously settled in collective centres. Whereas the property and utility payments of collective accommodation in Chechnya and Ingushetia are covered by the federal authorities, collective centres in Dagestan are neither recognised nor subsidised by the local or federal authorities and as a result, IDPs there mostly pay rent and utility fees themselves. Several years after they left their homes, internally displaced people in the North Caucasus continue to live in very poor conditions. Most collective accommodation facilities are crowded, damp and subject to inadequate sanitation and unreliable water, gas and electricity supplies (Conflict and Health, 13 March 2007; Chechenskoe Obshestvo, 26 November 2006; BBC, 24 February 2006; Kavkazski Uzel, 6 May 2006). The supply of gas and electricity to TSs in Ingushetia, as well as to IDP camps in North Ossetia administered by the government of Ingushetia, has been periodically interrupted due to Ingushetia’s arrears in payments to the regional electricity provider, funds which should have been provided from the federal budget (IDMC / Memorial, 10 October 2006; Kavkazski Uzel, 6 May 2006). Moreover, those living in collective accommodation in Ingushetia have been subjected to passport checks, detention and abductions by federal and local security officials (Kavkazski Uzel, 21 June 2006, 27 January 2007 and 16 March 2007; Memorial, 1 June 2007). Those who have not secured lodging in collective accommodation often live in even worse conditions, as there is a chronic shortage of adequate housing, and homes are often without water, electricity or gas (UNDP, 15 May 2007; IDMC / Memorial, 10 October 2006)."

Document(s): Open document

13.08.2007 - Source: Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (formerly Global IDP Project)

Displaced people can access healthcare to the same extent as other citizens, but it is often unaffordable for them; many IDPs reportedly suffer from mental health problems ("Government efforts help only some IDPs rebuild their lives; A profile of the internal displacement situation") [ID 21204]

"Displaced people can access healthcare to the same extent as other citizens, but it is often unaffordable for them. Patients must pay for prescriptions and, at times, pay bribes to health professionals (Memorial / Civic Assistance Committee, 15 March 2007). Those who have lost family members in the conflict may have no-one to take care of other dependent relatives during a visit to a medical clinic, and so diseases often remain untreated until they reach an advanced stage (Swisspeace, October 2006). Many IDPs reportedly suffer from mental health problems. An MSF survey of IDPs living in collective centres in Ingushetia and Chechnya found that nearly all the people they interviewed were suffering from anxiety, insomnia, depressive feelings or social dysfunction (Conflict and Health, 13 March 2007). A UNICEF study found that children and teenagers from 11 to 15 years of age living in collective centres in Chechnya exhibited a higher number of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and were more withdrawn, irritable and aggressive than non-displaced children (UNICEF, April 2007)."

Document(s): Open document

13.08.2007 - Source: Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (formerly Global IDP Project)

Prospects for IDPs hoping to settle in Dagestan permanently are poor, as they face problems obtaining residence registration ("Government efforts help only some IDPs rebuild their lives; A profile of the internal displacement situation") [ID 21209]

"As IDPs face problems obtaining residence registration in Dagestan, the prospects for those hoping to settle there permanently are poor. Unlike in Ingushetia and Chechnya, the Migration Service in Dagestan does not register IDPs, leaving this group more vulnerable than IDPs in the other republics. With no registration they have to pay for accommodation and there is a high risk of eviction. In order to access benefits such as pensions and unemployment allowances as well as medical care and education, IDPs must register in their place of residence; some have had difficulty registering their residence with the local authorities, since the authorities reportedly prefer them to return to their original place of residence rather than settle at their current location (Memorial / Civic Assistance Committee, 15 March 2007)."

Document(s): Open document

06.09.2006 - Source: Freedom House

Many refugees who return live in appalling conditions in tent camps, abandoned buildings, or cramped quarters with friends or relatives; well over 100,000 long-term homeless ("The Worst of the Worst: The World's Most Repressive Societies 2006") [ID 17264]

"While many external refugee camps have been closed and Chechens who fled the violence have been pressured to return to their homes, tens of thousands of refugees still remain outside of Chechnya. Many refugees who return live in appalling conditions in tent camps, abandoned buildings, or cramped quarters with friends or relatives. There are tens of thousands of additional internally displaced persons inside the region and well over 100,000 long-term homeless, many of them orphaned children and teens.
Travel to and from the republic and inside its borders is severely restricted. After the resumption of the war, the Russian military failed to provide safe exit routes from the conflict zones for noncombatants."

Document(s): Open document

03.08.2006 - Source: Memorial Human Rights Center

Most internally displaced persons (IDPs) had to return, but not enough capacity of accomodation ("On the Situation of Residents of Chechnya in the Russian Federation (July 2005-July 2006)") [ID 17632]

"Most internally displaced persons (IDPs) had to return to the CR; partly because they trusted the promises by the authorities to pay them compensations as a matter of priority, partly because of fear to be left without any shelter at all. Only part of them managed to find shelter in the 32 temporary accommodation points (TAPs) and 15 compact settlements (CAPs), in which ap-proximately 37,000 people have been registered. The real capacity of accommodation centers for IDPs is much lower, therefore about a third of the registered receive only food allowances there, living actually in private accommodation."

Document(s): Russian-language report
English-language report

03.08.2006 - Source: Memorial Human Rights Center

Difference in compensations paid to those residing in Chechen Republic and those who decided to never return there is additional traumatizing factor ("On the Situation of Residents of Chechnya in the Russian Federation (July 2005-July 2006)") [ID 17766]

"The difference in compensations for lost housing and property paid to those residing in the Chechen Republic and those who decided to never return there has become an additional traumatizing factor for IDPs. Resolution of the Government of the RF No.510 of April 30, 1997 set the minimum amount of payments in compensation for lost housing at 120,000 rubles, which amounted before the 1998 default in Russia to approximately 20,000 US dollars. Today it is im-possible to buy housing for a family with that sum of money, which does not exceed 4 to 5 thousand dollars. According to Resolution of the Government of the RF No.404 of July 4, 2003, the amount of payment made in the Chechen Republic in compensation for completely destroyed housing stands at 300,000 rubles. Since the majority of those who have left Chechnya, never to return, are ethnic Russians, the issue is raised of discrimination of ethnic Russian citizens versus Chechens, which drives a wedge between the people who were once neighbors and creates conditions for a new confrontation. And it is forgotten in the process that between 1997 and 2003 no compensations at all were paid in Chechnya."

Document(s): Russian-language report
English-language report

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144], [ID 11962]

"As of November 30, 26,883 IDPs from Chechnya were in temporary settlements or in the private sector in Ingushetiya; approximately 30 thousand Chechen IDPs reportedly were elsewhere in the country, and an estimated 200 thousand Chechens were living as IDPs within Chechnya itself. In addition to ethnic Chechen IDPs, almost the entire population of ethnic Russians, Armenians, and Jews left Chechnya during the strife of the past decade.

Throughout 2004 federal and local authorities consistently stated their determination to repatriate all IDPs back to Chechnya as soon as possible. Officials stated publicly that they would not pressure or compel IDPs to return to Chechnya, and Ingush president Zyazikov, whose republic is home to the largest number of Chechen IDPs, promised that accommodation would be found for those remaining in Ingushetiya. However, representatives of the Chechen administration visited camps in Ingushetiya to encourage IDPs to return to Chechnya, usually to temporary IDP facilities. In 2004 the authorities closed the last remaining three tent camps in Ingushetiya, which had housed 5,978 persons. The UNHCR reported that government officials stated their intention to de-register those IDPs who had received compensation from federal assistance lists and indicated that 52 families were de-registered in June. Those who were de-registered faced the threat of eviction from their accommodations in temporary settlements, despite their willingness to pay for the accommodation. Although some of the inhabitants chose to remain in Ingushetiya, the UNHCR estimated that 70 to 75 percent chose to return to Chechnya despite the inadequacy of the temporary lodging.

The UNHCR reported that despite passport checks and occasional security sweeps that continued in IDP settlements, the IDPs were generally able to remain in Ingushetiya without any pressure to return (see section 1.g.). However, other international and domestic organizations expressed concerns during the year over the government's treatment of Chechen IDPs in Ingushetiya. The Norwegian Refugee Council noted that IDPs were frequently denied status as "forced migrants" under Russian law, which severely limited their access to social benefits and protection. Others living in regions outside Chechnya were often denied residential registration by local authorities, in what the council characterized as discriminatory practices against Chechens.

The UNHCR also reported that pro-Russian Chechen authorities undertook an extensive campaign to return Chechen refugees from Georgia, with the first returnees arriving in Chechnya in May. The UNHCR reported that the returns were voluntary."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

26,883 IDPs from Chechnya in Ingushetiya, approximately 30 thousand elsewhere in the country, and about 200 thousand IDPs within Chechnya itself ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46144], [ID 16741]

"As of November 30, 26,883 IDPs from Chechnya were in temporary settlements or in the private sector in Ingushetiya; approximately 30 thousand Chechen IDPs reportedly were elsewhere in the country, and an estimated 200 thousand Chechens were living as IDPs within Chechnya itself. In addition to ethnic Chechen IDPs, almost the entire population of ethnic Russians, Armenians, and Jews left Chechnya during the strife of the past decade. Throughout 2004 federal and local authorities consistently stated their determination to repatriate all IDPs back to Chechnya as soon as possible. Officials stated publicly that they would not pressure or compel IDPs to return to Chechnya, and Ingush president Zyazikov, whose republic is home to the largest number of Chechen IDPs, promised that accommodation would be found for those remaining in Ingushetiya. However, representatives of the Chechen administration visited camps in Ingushetiya to encourage IDPs to return to Chechnya, usually to temporary IDP facilities. In 2004 the authorities closed the last remaining three tent camps in Ingushetiya, which had housed 5,978 persons. The UNHCR reported that government officials stated their intention to de-register those IDPs who had received compensation from federal assistance lists and indicated that 52 families were de-registered in June. Those who were de-registered faced the threat of eviction from their accommodations in temporary settlements, despite their willingness to pay for the accommodation. Although some of the inhabitants chose to remain in Ingushetiya, the UNHCR estimated that 70 to 75 percent chose to return to Chechnya despite the inadequacy of the temporary lodging. The UNHCR reported that despite passport checks and occasional security sweeps that continued in IDP settlements, the IDPs were generally able to remain in Ingushetiya without any pressure to return (see section 1.g.). However, other international and domestic organizations expressed concerns during the year over the government's treatment of Chechen IDPs in Ingushetiya. The Norwegian Refugee Council noted that IDPs were frequently denied status as "forced migrants" under Russian law, which severely limited their access to social benefits and protection. Others living in regions outside Chechnya were often denied residential registration by local authorities, in what the council characterized as discriminatory practices against Chechens. The UNHCR also reported that pro-Russian Chechen authorities undertook an extensive campaign to return Chechen refugees from Georgia, with the first returnees arriving in Chechnya in May. The UNHCR reported that the returns were voluntary."

Document(s): Open document

21.02.2006 - Source: BBC News

UN Human Rights Commissioner Louise Arbour voices concern about the conditions of Chechen refugees in Ingushetia ("UN troubled by Chechens' plight") [#44686], [ID 11963]

Document(s): Open document

07.11.2005 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Unsustainable conditions for about 36,000 returnees who don't have an own home ("Tschetschenien: Update: Entwicklungen in Tschetschenien, Inguschetien, Dagestan und anderen Teilen der Russischen Föderation") [#38928], [ID 16872]

"Rund 36’000 RückkehrerInnen, die nicht über ein eigenes Heim verfügen oder nicht bei Verwandten unterkommen, leben in provisorischen Unterkünften.68 Nach verschiedenen übereinstimmenden Berichten sind die Zustände dort unhaltbar: Oft handelt es sich bei den Unterkünften um umfunktionierte ehemalige Studentenheime. Häufig gibt es dort keinen Strom und keine Heizung. Die Hygiene ist schlecht.69 Die Bewohner sind auf humanitäre Hilfe angewiesen, doch was sie vom Staat erhal-ten, reicht bei weitem nicht. Viele verschulden sich folglich immer tiefer.70 Die medizinischen Bedingungen der RückkehrerInnen sind gemäss einem Bericht von «Médecins sans frontières» schlechter als diejenigen in den Lagern in Inguschetien. 71 Ausserdem haben die Rückkehrer keine Möglichkeit, ihre Rechte einzufordern. Was der Staat ihnen in den Lagern in Inguschetien versprochen hat, das scheint er jetzt vergessen zu haben.72"

Document(s): Open document

14.03.2005 - Source: Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (formerly Global IDP Project)

Report on internal displacement (background, causes, patterns), physical security, freedom of movement, subsistence needs (health, nutrition and shelter), patterns of return/resettlement and humanitarian access ("Profile of internal displacement: Russian Federation") [#30242], [ID 11964]

Document(s): Open document

28.02.2005 - Source: US Department of State

At the end of 2004 an estimated 39,000 IDPs from Chechnya were in Ingushetia, 200,000 in Chechnya, 8,000 in Dagestan, 1,105 in North-Ossetia, 2,610 in Georgia and 20,000 in other parts of the RF ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2004") [#29515], [ID 16752]

"At year's end there were an estimated 39,000 IDPs from Chechnya in Ingushetiya, in temporary settlements or in the private sector, and there were 200,000 Chechen IDPs in various parts of Chechnya. Approximately 8,000 Chechen IDPs reportedly were in Dagestan, 1,105 in North Ossetia, 2,610 in Georgia, and 20,000 elsewhere in the country. In addition to ethnic Chechen IDPs, almost the entire population of ethnic Russians, Armenians, and Jews left Chechnya during the strife of the past decade."

Document(s): Open document

15.01.2004 - Source: Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (formerly Global IDP Project)

Report on internal displacement (background, causes, patterns), physical security, freedom of movement, subsistence needs (health, nutrition and shelter), patterns of return/resettlement and humanitarian access ("Profile of internal displacement: Russian Federation") [#18748], [ID 11966]

Document(s): Open document