North Caucasus NGO Monitor
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Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 22:07:39 +0200 (EET)
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Subject: North Caucasus NGO Monitor
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Original sender: Andre Kamenshikov <[email protected]>
North Caucasus NGO Monitor
Dear friends!
You are receiving the first issue of a new periodical – the "North
Caucasus NGO Monitor". This is an information bulletin, produced by
members of the "Nonviolence International – Newly Independent States"
(NI-NIS) on a fellowship from the Open Society Institute in Budapest.
The publication of this newsletter will help in exploring new
approaches for humanitarian activities – approaches that allow
supporting elements of civil society in the North Caucasus, while
significantly lowering the security risks associated with such
activities. As a result of the project, a new type of information,
substantially different from current media reports, will begin to come
regularly from the region. This will be information about
constructive activities on a community level, rather than about
political developments on a regional level.
Our goal is to let you hear about the work of dedicated local
activists, who despite extreme difficulties and a continuously
deteriorating situation in the North Caucasus work toward peace,
reconciliation and toward a social and economical revival of their
communities.
We hope you find this information useful.
Phone and fax numbers in the bulletin are given with the Russian
internal area codes. When dialing from outside Russia or the CIS
states, the numbers provided must be preceded with 7 – Russia’s
country code. Names are given according to the Russian standard –
surname before the first name.
For questions and comments as well as to get additional information
about NGO activities in the North Caucasus please contact:
Nonviolence International – Newly Independent States,
Contact person - Kamenshikov Andre
Luchnikov Lane, house 4, entrance 3, room 2
Moscow, Russia, 103982
Tel. (095) 206-8618 or 351-4855, fax 206-8853,
E-mail: [email protected]
http: www.glasnet.ru/~ninis
North Caucasus NGO Monitor
1. Peacebuilding program carried out by local NGO along the
Chechen-Dagestan border.
In the fall of 1998 the Hasavyurt Charitable Fund “Salvation” carried
out a program aimed to restore ties between Chechen and Dagestan
villages along the Chechen-Dagestan border. In order to achieve this
objective the "Salvation" Fund had organized a series of meetings for
young people from villages which lay opposite each other on both sides
of the Chechen-Dagestan border. The centerpieces of these meetings
were a set of soccer games played between young people from both sides
of the border. The games were preceded by joint prayers for peace in
the region, according to local traditions and followed by a feast.
These events were welcomed by both the participants and the local
authorities on both sides and were covered in the local media.
The idea of this program was developed during a visit of the head of
the "Salvation" Fund to Moscow in the summer of 1998, on an internship
program for local NGO peace activists, sponsored by Nonviolence
International – Newly Independent States. Its effective implementation
had clearly shown a genuine interest among young people in both
Chechnya and Dagestan in reestablishing peaceful and friendly
relationships.
Unfortunately, the legacy of the Chechen war and cross border criminal
activity including murders and kidnappings continue to be major
destabilizing factors in the region. It would be no exaggeration to
say that Chechnya and Dagestan today are the most explosive and
troublesome areas in the entire Newly Independent States. In these
circumstances the Hasavyurt Regional Charitable Fund "Salvation" is an
example of a genuine NGO, trying to do its utmost to overcome the
problems faced by local people in these difficult times.
Address: Hasavyurt, Zarechnaja street, 63
368005, Dagestan Republic, Russia
Tel. (872310) 41-26.
Chairman: Djavtaev Umar Hamzatovich.
2. Ingush NGOs plan to work as observers on local elections.
On January 22 a decision was made by the Council of Social
Organisations of Ingushetia to participate as observers during the
elections to the local parliament, which are scheduled to take place
on February 28.
The Council of Social Organisations of the Ingush Republic was
organised in February 1995 with the purpose of developing
communication and co-ordinating efforts between different Ingush NGOs.
It consists of 12 separate groups. In the past a lot of the work of
the Council has been related to the tragic events in Chechnya and in
the Prigorodny district of North Ossetia. It lobbied on behalf of the
forced migrants from the Prigorodny Region, organised and participated
in many actions opposing the war in Chechnya, participated in the
negotiation process on different levels between North Ossetia and
Ingushetia, took part in various press conferences, etc.
Members of the Council meet monthly to review their activities and
discuss plans for the future. The Council includes such organisations
as the Women’s Committee of Ingushetia "Almos", the Union of Veterans
of World War II and the Union of Veterans of the Afghan war of the
Ingush Republic, the Charitable Fund for Social Protection of
Motherhood and Childhood and others.
Address: Council of Social Organisations of Ingushetia
Chairman: Bekov Alihan
3. Chechen Agency for Rehabilitation and Development is beginning an
assistance program for widows of the war.
The new program, starting in February 1999 includes distributing
humanitarian aid to a group of 81 women who have lost their spouses as
a result of the military conflict in Chechnya. Besides distributing
aid (food and clothing) the program plans to send some of these women
to other cities to receive medical treatment - surgery, prosthesis,
etc.
The Agency for Rehabilitation and Development was founded in the city
of Grozny (Chechnya) in 1995. Its main objective was to assist
children - victims of the war. The organization has a number of local
rehabilitation centers in various locations in Chechnya (Samashky,
Serjen-Yurt, Mahkhety, Hattuny, Tevzana, Chechen-Aul, Duba-Yurt,
Vedeno, Shali, Argun, Elistanji, and Shatoi). 3 times a week local
psychologists work with small groups of traumatized children in these
centers. Rooms for this work are found in schools, organizations or
simply in private houses. This work includes giving the children a
chance to tell their stories, play games, and participate in different
types of activities. After a 3-month course the children are examined
to tell if they need a continuation of the treatment.
Address: Agency for Rehabilitation and Development
Demina Street 10, Grozny, Chechnya, 364050
Director: Archakova Luba
4. "Caritas-North Ossetia" is opening a charitable cafeteria in
Vladikavkaz.
The North Ossetian NGO "Caritas" which is affiliated with the
international catholic charitable organization is starting a new
program of humanitarian aid in the city of Vladikavkaz – the capital
of North Ossetia. A charitable cafeteria will be opened in the
building of the first polyclinic of Vladikavkaz for people whose
incomes are too low to sustain themselves. These are mainly refugees
from various conflicts that took place in and around North Ossetia
over the last years – South Ossetia, the Suburban district of North
Ossetia and Chechnya.
On the first stage of the project, that is funded by the Austrian and
German branches of "Caritas", 120 people will be getting hot meals
once a day and another 250 will receive food packages. In the future
"Caritas" is hoping to expand this program to assist up to 1300 people
in North Ossetia and some other areas. This program is being carried
out within the framework of the anti-crisis program of "Caritas" –
"Winter 98/99".
The local Ministry of Justice registered the Religious Charitable
Catholic Organization "Caritas" – North Ossetia on February 11, 1997.
So far most of its activities were focused on supporting a medical
center for refugees at the first polyclinic of Vladikavkaz, providing
them with consultations and humanitarian aid.
Address: Borodinskaya Street 13 apt. 12
Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia-Alania
Tel./fax (8672) 33-1449
Chairman: Basiev Sergei
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