Assessment Mission in Akhmeta Region

Chechen refugees live in Pankisi Valley more than a year already. During this time the problem of returning to their homeland became very actual. Some refugees on their own return to see their houses and to familiarize themselves with existing situation. They say, that there are no security conditions yet for returning home. During last year some families left for Azerbaijan, namely Baku, and some for Turkey. As the refugees who had returned from Turkey say, their living conditions in Georgia are better. It is notable, that some refugees keep their refugee status before leaving for Turkey.

There are hard living conditions in Nazran, Ingushetia. Refugees in Ingushetia have to live in tents. That is why they prefer returning to Georgia. Majority of refugees state that they will not return home if Russian troops stay on Chechen territory.

There are problems connected with having necessary documents too. Some Chechen refugee families want to leave Georgia and seek asylum in one of the European countries, but due to not having the documents they are unable to do so. Refugees mainly have 3 category passports: a) USSR time passports; b) illegal (so called "false passports", with which they are able to enter only Turkish territory); c) official, which confirms a fact of their Russian citizenship. Despite the problem connected with documentation, the movement towards Chechnya and back does not cease. Persons registered in Chechnya have fewer problems with receiving refugee status.

One cannot feel the confrontation between local Kists and refugees. Any small disputes are very soon settled.

The problem of employment is very acute in the Valley. Because of this the importance of aid provided by international and nongovernmental organizations increases. At present, in the case of ceasing of providing the aid, refugees will stop having elementary vital means for existence. That is why they are very afraid if the humanitarian aid ceases. It is worth mentioning that sometimes in the Valley the provocative information is disseminated about stopping and reducing the aid. The result is, that some refugees, despite being in the end of distribution list, try to receive the products or clothes the very first day. This creates some problems in the process of product distribution.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been actively helping refugees all this time. The aid provided by this organization is regular and thus the employees of UNHCR Akhmeta Office have gained a big trust among refugees. Majority of refugees were very cautious from the beginning, but now one can see the obvious attempts of communication with the employees of international organizations.

This year children received the schoolbooks. Other organizations are also providing children with books. The process of education is quite stabile in the Valley. Humanitarian organizations have even reconditioned several secondary schools.

The activity of International Rescue Committee in the Valley is also worth of mentioning. With the provision of self-reliance program, hens, sheep, sewing machines and welding machines were distributed to the refugees. The self-reliance program includes 100 most poor families, in which live as local, as well as refugee population. IRC is working on the water supply problem also.

The Committee is building the cultural center, which will help the refugee women in involvement in social processes. Sometimes individual persons are helping the refugees also. In the Valley operate the organizations, which help the refugees in overcoming of medical problems. They send the patients being in bad state first to Akhmeta, and in the case of necessity, to Telavi or Tbilisi. There are a lot of patients in Tbilisi hospitals sent from Akhmeta, who are treating the various serious diseases. It is notable, that the costs of treatment are paid by the international organizations.

The birth rate among refugees is high. Newborn babies receive the refugee status on the ground of registration issued by obstetrician. Lately the number of mixed marriages among refugees and local population has increased.

Meanwhile a state of children has noticeably improved. The employees of UNHCR Akhmeta Office say, that children have more or less freed from the psychological traumas and that now they play and entertain just like their ordinary coevals. Although, when the helicopter appears in the Valley, refugees, and particularly children are very afraid of its noise; this makes them remember the bitter experience.

Refugee population has a special interest in receiving information. There is no television and radio in the Valley. Practically there is no press also. As the local population, as well as refugee population is in the informational vacuum. That is why there is a big interest in any kind of new information.