Chechnya projects focus on the human aspect
Projects aimed at providing clean water, medical supplies and places for children to play and learn are part of the assistance provided by the OSCE to those affected by the ongoing conflict in Chechnya, Russian Federation.
OSCE involvementThe OSCE Assistance Group in Chechnya was first established in April 1995, and helped in brokering ceasefire agreements to end hostilities in the area. Due to the deteriorating security situation, the international staff of the Group were withdrawn to Moscow in December 1998. The OSCE office in Grozny remained open until armed fighting broke out again in 1999.
At present, the Group is operating from temporary premises in Moscow. Its mandate is to promote respect for human rights and freedoms, facilitate the delivery of international humanitarian aid, provide assistance for the speedy return of refugees and displaced persons, and to promote a peaceful resolution of the crisis and stabilization in the Republic.
Children in tent camps
In the tent camps of the Znamenskoye/ Nadterechny district, representatives of the OSCE have secured support for projects that will help bring some sense of normality to the lives of children who have been living in this temporary community since the outbreak of armed hostilities.
"The psychological aspects of living in this situation can have strong lasting effects on young children," explained Lilian Darii, programme officer for the OSCE Assistance Group in Chechnya. "We have been fortunate in obtaining corporate and government financial support to establish some basic programmes for these children and bring a sense of routine and stability to their lives."
The German company, Wintershall, has provided funding for specialists who provide psychological therapy to about 200 children on a weekly basis. This therapy helps to address the psychosomatic ailments evident in the camps.
Another project has been to take children and their mothers out of the camps and on therapy trips to sanatoriums.
"It's amazing how, when people's lives are disrupted, the stress can manifest itself in many types of physical ailments and mental fatigue and even fear," Mr. Darii said. "Since we established this programme in 2000 we have found a number of children have shown signs of improvement."
One example is the analysis of drawings painted by children in the programme. At first, they were bleak images of war and destruction that reflected their traumatic experiences. After the therapy, the children began painting houses and families, and occasionally sunshine.
Establishing regular routines
Long days with few regular routines, activities and schedules can also have lasting affects for children. The Government of Turkey has provided funds to establish a nursery school programme, where the instructors spend time each day with children playing games and teaching basic lifeskills, such as tying shoes or crossing the street.
For school-aged children, the OSCE Assistance Group is helping local authorities to extend school hours so they do not fall too far behind in their studies and will be more ready to enter regular classroom environments when the situation permits.
A capital in ruins
Meanwhile in Grozny, where the armed hostilities have reduced the capital into ruins, the German and Czech governments have helped the OSCE Assistance Group to supply 5,000 water filters to people who remained in or are returning to their homes.
These families face many daily difficulties and challenges, many due to scarce food, medical and energy supplies. Addressing the potable drinking water issue is one way to assist the Chechen authorities in reducing the number of epidemic diseases, now prevalent among those living in the capital.