Russia to provide escorts for UN worker in Chechnya

Nor would the UN aid workers go to Chechnya itself, where Russian troops are battling their way into Grozny, capital of the breakaway region, in what could be a decisive phase in their three-month military campaign.

A first convoy of international UN staff, from several agencies including the UNHCR, was expected to travel from Stravropol, near the Caspian Sea, to Ingushetia on Wednesday or Thursday, Stromberg told a news briefing in Geneva.

The long-awaited Russian assurances of protection came a full month after UN refugee chief SadakoOgata travelled to the north caucasus as a special envoy on behalf of UN secretary-general Kofi Annan.

“We have received a letter from Russian authorities that police have been instructed to provide protection to international staff who are to conduct frequent missions to the border area,” Stromberg said. The letter came last Friday.

“Under the new arrangement, the Russian authorities will provide more heavily armed escorts,” he added. “The first convoy under the new arrangement will travel to Ingushetia either tomorrow or on Thursday.”

Ingush authorities have told the Geneva-based UNHCR that 248,399 people who have fled fighting in Chechnya have sought shelter in the republic.

More than three out of four of the displaced are women or children, Stromberg added.

He quoted Vladimir Kalamanov, head of Russia’s migration service, as saying that 50,000 displaced had returned to Chechnya as of December 15. Kalamanov also said only 2,000 people had left Grozny through a humanitarian corridor, whilesome 500 left on Monday through a second safe passage.

Meanwhile, the UNHCR said its 17th convoy carrying aid supplies — including 300 metric tonnes of food, nearly 18,000 winter coats, 4,500 blankets and 1,720 mattresses — had arrived in the Ingush capital of Nazran from Stravropol today.