Brussels, 22/02/2001 (Agence Europe) - Through the intermediary of its Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), the European Commission has resumed its assistance to Chechnya in cooperation with the United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which are its partners in the region. The Commission, however, considers that the conditions for delivery of this aid must be considerably improved. The decision, jointly taken by the Commission, the UN agencies and the NGOs, to resume these operations comes after the release of Kenny Gluck, an aid worker, and after the fulfilment of basic minimum operational requirements for aid convoys, notably the re-issuance of permits allowing NGOs to work in Chechnya.
One hundred and thirty tonnes of flour, oil, sugar and salt and ten lorries carrying shelter material, all financed by ECHO, will now be transported by the Danish Refugee Council, EHCO's partner on the ground, to different locations in Chechnya. Their distribution is expected to be effective by Thursday 22 February. Other convoys are planned for coming days.
Despite this decision to resume supplies, the Commission considers that the civilian and military authorities must guarantee unhampered surveillance of convoys by internal NGO staff (only local collaborators are currently present in Chechnya). For security reasons, it also hopes the NGOs will have access to the VHF communications network in northern Caucasus. Finally, the Commission stresses that the validity of the permits allowing access by NGOs to Chechnya must be extended to several months (instead of 15 days as at present) and that the conditions for issuing these permits should be improved.