Brussels, 27/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - From Africa where he is currently on a trip, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, Poul Nielson expressed concern regarding the forthcoming closure of a camp of displaced Chechens, and urges the Russian authorities to respect international law. In a press release. He declares: "I m very concerned by the recent announcement of the Ingush Federal Migration Service of their intention to close the Aki Yurt camp on the 1st of December. This camp currently hosts more than 1,700 displaced people from Chechnya who have fled the war and refuse to return there as long as their lives are at risk. That it is not known where these people will go if the camp closes is disturbing. The European Commission, and the international community at large, have repeatedly asked the authorities not to close any camp in Ingushetia as long as it is not safe for displaced people to return to Chechnya We consider that the lack of security in Chechnya does not currently allow for this safe return. I reiterate here that return of displaced people should only be voluntary and that those who wish to stay in Ingushetia should be allowed to do so in decent conditions. Forcing displaced people to go back to Chechnya, where the conflict is still going on, would be against international humanitarian law as well as Conventions that the Russian Federation is party to. Let me recall that the European Commission, through its humanitarian aid office, ECHO, is the main donor of humanitarian aid to the victims of the Chechnya conflict (90 million euro since 1999). A large part of this aid goes to help the 120,000 people still displaced in Ingushetia, where they are in camps, spontaneous settlements or host families. ECHO has financed a number of humanitarian services in the Aki Yurt camp in order to make it more human and suitable for people to stay".