European Union

On 13 December, the European Commission decided to provide another €2 million in humanitarian assistance to the 45,000 people displaced by the Chechen conflict. The money will be used to rebuild houses, so that families can return home; income-generating activities will also be supported, to reduce the dependence on humanitarian aid. In addition, legal counselling and access to health and education will be funded.

Kristalina Georgieva, Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection, said: "An estimated 30,000 are still displaced within Chechnya today and many thousands of their compatriots are scattered around neighbouring countries. With this new funding, we will provide assistance for war-affected, homeless and vulnerable households to rebuild their normal lives. The EU has made another gesture of solidarity to this long suffering people".

The Commission is the largest humanitarian donor in Chechnya. Over the past 11 years, it has given over €237 million in humanitarian aid to victims of the conflict. The funds have been spent on medical care, the provision of shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, psychosocial help, primary education, legal support and livelihood projects. The number of displaced people in the area has declined significantly in recent years, due to political stabilisation and economic progress. This is why, the European Commission started phasing out its humanitarian aid in 2008. The aid approved today will be channelled through the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Danish Refugee Council, and will be available until October 2011.

For further information: http://ec.europa.eu/echo/index_en.htm

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