The North Caucasus is a southern region of the Russian Federation and includes Chechnya, Ingushetia and Kabardino-Balkaria. It is one of Russia’s poorest regions, with more than 80% of the population living below the poverty line.

Chechnya

Chechnya lies in the centre of the Caucasus and has a predominantly Muslim population. There is an ongoing dispute over whether it should be an independent state.

More than 100,000 people have been killed in conflict between Russia and Chechnya. Around 350,000 Chechens fled to neighbouring Ingushetia during the height of the conflict, many ending up in overcrowded tent camps for years.

Returning home

By 2004 most tent camps had been shut down. Thousands of families returned to Chechnya hoping to pick up their lives but found their homes destroyed and schools, hospitals and other infrastructure in ruins.

Displacement

There are 150,000 displaced people living in Chechnya and 40,000 more in Ingushetia and neighbouring Dagestan. The government has set up Temporary Accommodation Centres (TACs) in Grozny and other Chechen cities to house families whose homes have been destroyed. Most TACs are now several years old and living conditions are deteriorating.

The future of TACs is uncertain and many have already been dismantled. There are fears that all TACs will be closed down soon, leaving families with no choice but to return to their wrecked homes. Many families are from poor Chechen villages and cannot begin reconstructing their homes until they receive government compensation.

Islamic Relief in the Russian Federation

Islamic Relief (IRW) was one of the first aid agencies to help Chechens affected by conflict and has been working in the North Caucasus since 1995. IRW now works in Chechnya, Ingushetia and Kabardino-Balkaria.

Most programmes in Chechnya are located in and around Grozny. Projects include reconstruction, livestock development and orphans sponsorship. In partnership with the UN World Food Programme, IRW is also implementing emergency relief projects and a Hot Meals for Schools programme.

IRW works in seven villages in Ingushetia's Nazran region where it also supported three tent camps before their closure. The camps received regular food and hygiene kit distributions and had six mobile health clinics. IRW also trucked in 720 tonnes of water daily.

In the city of Nalchik in Kabardino-Balkaria, IRW has set up a Community Training Centre providing people with accountancy, management and secretarial skills.