Brussels, 08/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 7 April, the European Commission approved a €11 million humanitarian aid package to support victims of the conflict in Chechnya. The country will have to recover both at a socio-economic level but will also have to confront considerable humanitarian needs.
The Commission explains in a press release that the funds will be channelled from the ECHO budget (Commission's humanitarian aid service) to Ingushetia, Dagestan, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
In Chechnya itself, funds will cover income-generation activities, food security as well as the basic rehabilitation of private houses and primary and mother-and-child health services. In Chechnya, Ingushetia and Dagestan, action will be curtailed owing to military and guerrilla action regularly carried out. Funds will also go towards funding protection of the civilian population, which is still experiencing human rights violations. Delivery of aid, is always dependent on access and security conditions, particularly in North Caucasus. (A.N.)