UN food agency sends relief convoys to war-torn Chechnya
14 August -- Amid the long-running conflict in the Caucasus, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today dispatched convoys to Chechnya to distribute urgently needed food to about 35,000 people facing starvation.
Working through two non-governmental organizations, WFP launched a series of deliveries to the remote, mountainous region of southern Russia, sending one convoy to the Chechen capital of Grozny and the other to the border district of Urus-Martan. Both convoys left early today from Nazran, the capital of the neighbouring Republic of Ingushetia.
"These civilian victims of the conflict in Chechnya are clearly in a very dangerous situation, particularly the people in Grozny," said Bhum Udas, WFP Emergency Coordinator for the northern Caucasus. "They are the last in line for food access, and we are very anxious to get relief to them before they begin suffering the effects of severe malnutrition."
The recipients of the first convoy have been struggling to survive in the heavily damaged and besieged city.
The second convoy will bring aid to 3,500 internally displaced persons from the village of Komsomolskoe, which was completely flattened during the resurgent conflict, WFP said.
Within the food agency's six-month emergency programme, which was launched on 1 July, food will be delivered throughout Chechnya to some 170,000 people, including about 325,000 displaced people in both Chechnya and Ingushetia.
However, more contributions are needed from the international community, WFP warns, noting that out of the total requirements of about 28,000 tonnes of food commodities, donors have so far pledged just over 6,000 tonnes.
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