UN delegation visits Chechnya and IngushetiaRuslan Isayev, Northern Caucasus - A UN delegation, which included, among others, UNICEF Representative in the Russian Federation Rosemary McCreery, and Belgian Ambassador to the Russian Federation Andre Mernier, in recent days visited Chechnya, as well as refugee camps in Ingushetia.
During the three-day visit, the delegates visited the temporary accommodation centers for Chechens who had returned to Grozny from Ingustia, and met with the leadership of the republic. They also went to Magas with Ingush politicians and representatives of international relief aid organizations operating in Ingushetia.
On April 16 they went to Ingushetia, to the "Bela" refugee camp, where they asked the Chechens why they were not returning home; and the response was to point out the situation that exists in their homeland where no one could guarantee their safety. Many refugees had actually returned home, but after a few days they left deciding it was safer back in the camps.
“I suffered through the war in Afghanistan as a Soviet soldier, and saw many atrocities,” recalled Ramzan, “but compared to what the Russian army is doing in Chechnya, it was a picnic. They are constantly raiding some Chechen village looking for partisans, which results in many innocent people disappearing. So you can’t expect me to bring my children back to face certain death!”
The refugees fully understand that the delegates are not empowered to change the situation. As a matter of fact, many refugees are skeptical about the benefit of such visits. Nevertheless, just because the West is at least somewhat interested in what is happening to the refugees, is, in itself, encouraging.
(A,E/T) |
