With a death toll of 60,000 to 100,000 since 1994, 40% of which were children, a massive refugee and internally displaced persons (IDPs) crisis, one of the worst landmine problems in the world, together with an ailing healthcare system and a destroyed infrastructure, Chechnya is facing one of the worst humanitarian situations in the world. The lack of sufficient relief work in the region due to the lack of security and funding has only added to the aggravation of the innocent Chechen civilian population.

The conflict between Chechnya and Russia can be dated back to 1853, when Russia’s desire to conquer the Caucasus region in an attempt to increase its territorial acquisitions led to the Crimean War (1853-1856) against the people of Chechnya. With their declaration of independence from Russia in September 1991, tensions between the two countries arose once again. In December of 1994, Russian troops were sent to Chechnya leading to a bloody conflict between the two neighbors. After a four year period during which major fighting was halted, hostilities began once again in August 1996 leading to the current humanitarian crisis.

The Landmine Plague

Throughout their struggle for independence from the Russian federation, the Chechen people have suffered tremendously. Civilians, especially women and children, are the ones paying the price for this unrelenting conflict.

Both the Russian and the Chechen forces continue to use landmines as one of their primary weapons. The extensive use of landmines has been a particular problem for the estimated 300,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have moved to refugee camps and settlements in neighboring Ingushetia. The fear of stumbling across one of these mines prevent most of these IDPs from returning home especially since they are more often than not the victims of these indiscriminate and deadly devices.

According to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, more landmines can be found in Chechnya than in any other region in the world. They also state that the year 2002 witnessed a total of 5,695 casualties caused by landmines, which is double the number occurring in 2001, 938 of these being children.  The significance of these numbers is clear given the fact that the region has a population of less than one million people. 

Although it is impossible to give an accurate count due to the inability to collect such data under the current security conditions, it has been estimated last year by Olara Otunnu, the United Nations special representative for children in armed conflict, that the number of landmines planted in Chechnya is around half a million mines, which makes it, “one of the most land-mine polluted zones in the world...very much up there with Afghanistan, Angola, and Sri Lanka.”

Since the beginning of the conflict, it has been estimated that the number of casualties caused by landmines and other explosive ordnance has been more than 10,000, half of these being children.

According to Aida Ailarova, an expert with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)-funded National Office of Mine Action in Vladikavkaz, “Both sides use mines very extensively. Even if the war stopped tomorrow, it would take years to make Chechnya safe. But as long as the conflict continues, no one will seriously begin demining operations.”

It is estimated that up to 100,000 hectares of arable land in Chechnya is in need of mine clearance. However, with the withdrawal of the few international agencies that worked for a short time on mine clearance, there is currently a total absence of mine action funding and mine clearance projects in the country. The only action now being taken concerning mines is the distribution of mine awareness posters mainly targeting children and adolescents.

With only one clinic in the north Caucasus region that is able to provide prosthetic care, the physical therapy, prosthetics and psychological counseling needed by mine victims also poses a real problem.

The Plight of IDPs and Refugees

Since the start of the conflict, over 350,000 people have left the country. There are approximately 84,000 IDPs living in refugee camps or other settlements in neighboring Ingushetia. These refugees, especially the 12,000 living in tent camps, are continuously being harassed by the Russian forces who have subjected them to arbitrary deregistration from camp lists, detentions, looting and ill-treatment as well as other aggravations in an attempt to force them back to Chechnya. Access to the camps by humanitarian and human rights groups is also denied from time to time by local authorities.

The health situation of the IDPs is deplorable. The overcrowding and unhygienic surroundings have led to a high incidence of acute respiratory disease, skin diseases, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal disease especially amongst children. The approaching subzero winter temperature will be extremely harsh on the IDPs, many of whom live in inadequate shelters.

IDPs are facing several hardships including the lack of basic food, potable water, and disposal of wastes. Health care centers that are still working lack everything, including medicine and supplies. Civilians in need of medical assistance are often too afraid to move around especially during the night and therefore cannot get the assistance they require and often end up with unnecessary complications.

An outbreak of tuberculosis occurred among the IDPs and local population of Ingushetia and an increase in HIV and other STDs is also being seen. Examinations of children in Chechnya carried out by the Association of Women Doctors of Chechnya showed more than 50% of the children to be suffering from pathological iodine deficiency, while 76% of them suffered from other types of diseases or ailments. Immunization rates are also very low among both IDPs and local residents, with only 24.6% of displaced children receiving vaccinations. The rate is especially low for measles, tetanus, and diphtheria vaccinations.

Psychological Effects of the War

The war has had a heavy toll on the Chechen children. Having to witness killings, loss of loved ones and sometimes maiming has affected them both physically and psychologically.

In Chechnya, there are an estimated 291,000 children while another 40,000 Chechen children are living in Ingushetia, mostly as refugees.  Many of these children suffer from various psychosomatic conditions or post-traumatic stress disorder. Some of the symptoms include insomnia, nightmares, violent behavior, lack of interest in school or other activities, lack of concentration and communication as well as shock reactions to sudden sounds.

With the majority of qualified professionals having left the country and the intermittent nature of relief projects in the region, the necessary care for these children is severely deficient. As with the majority of wars and conflicts, this one has not failed to cause the unnecessary grief and suffering of the innocent. 

Sources:

• Busé, Margaret S.  “Chechnya: The Republic of the Wolf.”
• Children's rehabilitation center “Little Star”

• Vazayeva, Asiyat, Institute for War & Peace Reporting, “The mental scars of Chechnya's children”, 2003.

• Hayden Roberts, “Update: The Landmine Situation in Chechnya.”

• Human Rights Watch, Russia: Displaced Chechens in Ingushetia face abuses, 22 Sept 2003

• “MSF Calls for Independent Monitoring Presence in Chechnya.” 12 April 2000.

• Valentinas Mite, “Russia: Land Mines Kill, Injure More In Chechnya Than Anywhere Else.”

• “Health situation in Ingushetia and Chechnya under surveillance (2002).”

• Kristina Davis “Chechnya: Reconstruction Amidst the War.”

Aisha El-Awady has a bachelor’s degree in medicine from Cairo University and is currently preparing her MA and working as instructor of Parasitology in the Faculty of Medicine. She may be contacted at: aawady@islam-online.net