Residents in Grozny's TACs complain of overcrowding and other inequitiesTimur Aliyev, North Caucasus – Former refugees from tented camps in Ingushetia are unhappy with their present accommodations in temporary accommodation centers (TACs) in Grozny.
“It’s impossible to live here as it’s too crowded,” said Yakhita Abayeva, one of the TAC residents. “Three families live together in one very small space and although we’re all related, it’s still very uncomfortable.”
According to Grozny’s deputy mayor Akhmed Ustayev, “The legally designated living space of 3.2 square meters per person is very difficult for people to accept compared with what they are used to. Communal living is really psychologically very difficult for Chechens.”
Today there are almost 25,000 people living in 22 TACs within Grozny. Aside from overcrowding, there are also complaints about frequent power outages, lack of heating, and delays in distributing bread and supplying water.
Despite the refugees having been told they would be given priority in receiving compensation for the loss of their homes, the city administration admitted that the number of people who received these payments is still very low.
The Grozny administration set up control procedures to verify complaints and applications from TAC residents and presented the Moscow-backed president Alu Alkhanov with the facts about the refugees’ living conditions. However, this only resulted in dismissing Makka Murtazaliyeva, superintendent of the TAC located on the Novatorov Street. (U/E,T)
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