From: MSN NicknameEagle_wng  (Original Message)    Sent: 8/24/2005 3:16 AM
Food aid to Chechnya and Dagestan
17.08.2005 - 00:32:33

The Danish Refugee Council is continuing food aid distribution funded by the European Union...

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is continuing food aid distribution to the population of Chechnya and IDPs living in Dagestan.

The program is funded by the European Union through its Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO).

Over 110,000 people, living in Vedeno, Groznenskiy Rural, Gudermes, Kurchaloy, Nozhay-Yurt, Urus-Martan and Shali districts, will receive food aid and around 5,000 people in Dagestan, residing in Kizlyar, Nogayskiy, Tarumovskiy and Khasav-Yurt districts.

Only the most vulnerable groups of the population are in beneficiary lists.

Aid beneficiaries in Chechnya are poor and very poor families with low income and high expenditures.

In Dagestan these are people who fled Chechnya after September 1999, and have not settled permanently in Dagestan.

Criteria for inclusion into DRC/ECHO food aid beneficiary lists are presented at DRC Information Centers located in Grozny, Achkhoy-Martan, Urus-Martan, Gudermes, Shali, Nozhay-Yurt and Vedeno.

All food distributions are conducted directly by DRC staff at 95 distribution points, located in large villages, towns and cities across the two republics.

Distribution Points are open for an average of 3-4 days. DRC delivers food-aid on a bi-monthly basis.

The food ration includes wheat flour, sugar, salt and vegetable oil.

All commodities comply with Russian Federation and international quality standards and have necessary quality certificates.

ECHO, the Humanitarian Aid department of the European Union, funds relief operations for victims of natural disasters and conflicts outside the EU.

Aid is channelled impartially, straight to victims, of their race, ethnic group, religion, gender, age, nationality or political affiliation.

ECHO began providing humanitarian assistance in the Northern Caucasus in 1999.

Aid is delivered through ECHO implementing partners to the most vulnerable people in Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan.

Danish Refugee Council is a humanitarian non-governmental organization aiming at protection and promotion of durable solutions for refugees and internally displaced in the North Caucasus based on humanitarian principles and human rights.

More information on ECHO activities: europa.eu.int

(Agency Caucasus)

150305 Denmark

http://www.kafkas.org.tr/absoluten/showarticle.php?articleID=1295