UNITED NATIONS SEEKS $13 MILLION FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO PERSONS DISPLACED BY CONFLICT IN CHECHNYA REGION
Press Release
IHA/592*
UNITED NATIONS SEEKS $13 MILLION FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO PERSONS DISPLACED BY CONFLICT IN CHECHNYA REGION
19960417 NEW YORK, 17 April (Department of Humanitarian Affairs) -- The United Nations today appealed for $13 million to address the humanitarian needs of persons displaced as a result of the conflict in the Chechnya region.The fighting in Chechnya has forced approximately 500,000 persons from their homes, roughly half its population, many of whom have fled to Daghestan, Ingushetia and North Ossetia. An estimated total of 150,000 persons are taking refuge in those areas. As fighting continues in Chechnya, more displaced persons are expected to seek refuge there.
The 1996 United Nations consolidated inter-agency appeal for the Chechnya region covers the period 1 January through 31 December, with the exception of the activities of the World Food Programme (WFP), which will continue through March 1997. The United Nations humanitarian programme aims to meet the emergency needs of those who have fled to Daghestan, Ingushetia and North Ossetia, targeting those believed to be most in need, currently estimated at 92,000.
The inter-agency appeal covers programmes in the areas of food aid, health, shelter, and water and sanitation, among others. It is important that support be made available quickly to meet the growing needs resulting from the continuing conflict in Chechnya. It is foreseen that the emergency programmes will be required for the duration of the appeal, since there is little indication that those who have fled Chechnya will be returning in the near future.
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__________ * Press Release IHA/592 dated 19 March 1996 should have been numbered IHA/591.