Accessibility links

Breaking News

EU Approves 22 Million Euros In Aid To Chechnya


Students in the Chechen capital, Grozny (file photo) (epa) BRUSSELS, April 6, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- The European Commission today announced an aid package worth 22 million euros ($27 million) for the victims of the conflict of Chechnya.


The money will be spent in the course of this year mostly on food, income generation, primary education, vocational training, and psychological assistance for victims of trauma.


Commission spokesman Amadeu Altafaj told RFE/RL the aid is part of the EU's regular annual contributions of humanitarian aid to Russia's war-torn republic.


"It's important to provide this support regularly, because at this stage there are still about 200,000 people who are refugees or displaced people in their home country," Altafaj said. "It is a huge proportion of the population that depends largely on international aid."


The commission says the money will also be used to support Chechen refugees in nearby regions. There are a reported 25,000 Chechen refugees still in Ingushetia, 9,000 in Daghestan, and 5,000 in Azerbaijan.


Altafaj says the European Commission uses every opportunity to "throw light on the plight of the Chechens and the persistence of a severe humanitarian crisis."


He also said that the European Union is "one of the largest contributors [of aid to Chechnya], through nongovernmental organizations, through the Red Cross, and through several UN agencies."

Crisis In Chechnya

Crisis In Chechnya


RFE/RL's complete coverage of Russia's war-torn Republic of Chechnya.


CHRONOLOGY

An annotated timeline of the Chechnya conflict.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG