TFGG01: HUMANITARIAN SITUATION FOR SOUTH OSSETIANS IN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 002440 DEPARTMENT FOR PRM/ECA AND EUR/RUS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF PGOV PHUM PINR ICRC RS SUBJECT: TFGG01: HUMANITARIAN SITUATION FOR SOUTH OSSETIANS IN NORTH CAUCASUS REMAINS STABLE, IGO'S AFFIRM ¶1. (SBU) Summary: United Nations agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross operating in Russia report that conditions for Ossetian conflict victims who have fled to the North Caucasus remain satisfactory. While the UN is still at the needs assessment stage, in part because the Russian Government has not requested its assistance, ICRC has been delivering supplies to the displaced for several days and plans to augment its Vladikavkaz (North Ossetia) staffing. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Refugee Coordinator (RefCoord) spoke with United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF),World Food Program (WFP),and International Committee of the Red Cross representatives August 14 and 15. All were at full throttle responding to recent events that have led to the arrival of an estimated (GOR figure accepted by UNHCR) 30,000 South Ossetians in the republics of southern Russia. WFP, which had planned to conclude its Russian operations in October due to improved conditions and greater capacity in Chechnya, will now stay open until at least the end of the calendar year. WFP --- ¶3. (SBU) Inge Breuer, WFP Russia's Country Representative, told RefCoord August 14 that her agency assesses that GOR food aid is coming through well to South Ossetian arrivals in the North Caucasus. Breuer added, however, that she believes it is very important for WFP to be seen as helping the Ossetians as well as the Georgians. That does not mean matching donations in Russia and Georgia ton for ton, as clearly Russia has much greater capacity than Georgia. It does mean showing concern for both sides, she maintained. Thus far Russia has turned down WFP assistance, but Breuer hopes that Russia will be included in WFP's upcoming flash appeal with some sort of subtle phrasing that indicates that donations will benefit all/all conflict victims. As of September 1 WFP will station a member of international staff in Vladikavkaz to coordinate the agency's assistance to its new set of beneficiaries. UNICEF -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Kemlin Furley, UNICEF Russia's Acting Country Representative, stated August 14 that the GOR has not yet asked UNICEF for any assistance and seems to be covering the fleeing South Ossetians' immediate needs. Longer term, however, Furley anticipated the following needs for which the GOR may request international assistance: -- Psycho-social/trauma counseling (UNICEF has significant experience from Beslan; it has also been doing psycho-social work in Chechnya funded by USAID and in 2008 proposed that PRM fund an extension of that work to Ingushetia) -- Education (schools in the region do not have enough places for all of the displaced children, so capacity will have to be increased) -- Primary health care -- Child protection (monitoring; strengthening North Ossetia's ombudsman) Furley, in Geneva on consultations, said she planned to travel to North Ossetia the week of August 18 to conduct further needs assessment. ICRC -------------- ¶5. (SBU) In contrast to his UN counterparts' caution while they await an official Russian go-ahead for aid delivery, ICRC Russia Deputy Head of Delegation Francois Blancy was pleased August 15 to report already substantial Red Cross contributions. The ICRC has been supporting the Russian Red Cross in North Ossetia to bring non-food items to collective centers housing what the ICRC is terming "persons fleeing hostilities" (as opposed to "refugees" or "internally displaced people" - or the UN's "persons of concern"). Blancy reported a first distribution of hygienic items and linens to about 600 women and children, as well as 150 surgical kits to hospitals caring for the conflict's wounded. (Note: Blancy declared that medical supply donations were necessary only in the first couple of days after the South Ossetians' arrival because Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry has now set up its own well-equipped medical centers in the region. End note.) ¶6. (SBU) Blancy described a "huge" disaster relief machine put in place by the GOR, backed by political will to ensure that the machine functions efficiently. The Russians welcome the ICRC's involvement because the international organization works through the Red Cross's national society, thus enhancing rather than detracting MOSCOW 00002440 002 OF 002 from the national character of the relief effort. The GOR itself is bringing in psychologists and psycho-social experts, many with experience from the Beslan hostage tragedy, to counsel the arrivals, and donations are pouring in from individuals and companies all over Russia. ICRC Russia has asked its headquarters for five additional expatriate staff members to augment its current 12 expatriate and 200 national staff, but primarily to be ready in case access to Tskhinvali opens from the north. Blancy said the GOR had assured his office that visas for the new staff would be expedited. ¶7. (SBU) Blancy expressed himself not overly concerned about Russian shelters for the Ossetians that other organizations have said would need expensive winterization in order to serve displaced persons remaining in the North Caucasus into the colder months. "What we hear is that everyone in the camps wants to go home," Blancy said. If the restoration of Grozniy is any guide, then the Russians should be able to whip Tskhinvali into habitable shape in a jiffy, he surmised. Comment -------------- ¶8. (SBU) ICRC has taken a "constructive engagement" approach toward Russia, emphasizing the positive especially since its president's visit in January 2008 and Russian promises to help find those still missing from the two Chechen conflicts. (Note: Dr. Kellenberger will again visit Russia the week of August 18, Blancy announced, and plans are still on for the ICRC President's participation in a celebration of the 1868 St. Petersburg Declaration in the northwestern city in November. End note.) In light of what we are hearing from other IGO's, however, Blancy's praise for the Russians' humanitarian response may reasonably be taken at face value. Under these circumstances, the challenge for other humanitarian actors will be to find and fill in gaps so that none can be accused of political bias in their outreach to this war's victims. BYERLE