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UN United Nations |
Ravi Solanki has been appointed on secondment from the
UNHCR as the Field Security Officer for 
UNSECOORD
(United Nations Security Coordinator) in the Russian Federation.
Before joining the UNHCR in 1994, Ravi Solanki joined the Indian Civil Service in 1981 and besides other assignments, worked between 1989 -1994 in the elite Special Protection Group, which provides Security to Indian Prime Ministers.
While in the UNHCR between 1994-2000, he worked in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia including the province of Kosovo, as their Regional Security Adviser.
His educational and professional qualifications include BA (Honours) in Sociology, Master’s in History, M Phil in Diplomacy and the Police Command Course with the British Police. He is married and has two sons.
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UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |
UNHCR continues to render assistance to Chechen internally displaced persons (IDPs) that are temporarily located in Ingushetia assisting the Russian authorities in their efforts to provide IDPs with temporary accommodation. A new camp funded by UNHCR and constructed by the Ministry on Emergency of Ingushetia.
At the beginning of January 2001, all 245 winterized tents, with a capacity of 20 people each installed in the camp, were connected to electricity and gas lines, provided with floors, and supplied with stoves with gas burners. A kitchen was completed and provided with army boilers, 132 double latrines were pitched. A total of 4,500 IDPs are accommodated at this camp now.
The
construction of another camp was started in the immediate vicinity. In January,
the following preparations were done: excavation of drains, water trenches,
footing gas support, rock for roads and paths, concrete gas supports and water
pipe installation, and gas pipes were partially laid. The camp will accommodate
another 4,000 persons. UNHCR allocated funds for the construction of the second
camp, as well with the Ingush EMERCOM carrying out the construction.
In addition, UNHCR allocated funds for shelter materials, which are distributed in spontaneous settlements.
Distribution of shelter materials in settlements is undertaken immediately after the materials are delivered to the warehouse. The first circle of distribution covers 55 spontaneous settlements. 35 spontaneous settlements of Malgobeksky, Nazranovsky, Sunzhensky regions were provided with asbestos-cement sheeting, cement, plastic sheeting, roofing nails and 31 stoves. The IDPs residing in the settlements will make basic shelter preparations. It is considered to be solid shelter improvement for winter conditions and will contribute to the IDPs’ psychological and material rehabilitation.
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The UNHCR Regional Office in the Russian Federation produced a Russian version of the State of the World’s Refugees - 50 Years of Humanitarian Action». In this publication UNHCR examines the major refugee crises of the last 50 years and the changing nature of international responses to the problem of forced displacement.
The book describes the development of international refugee law and the establishment of institutions devoted to the protection of refugees and other displaced people. It the need to find lasting solutions to problems of forced migrants.
Looking at the challenges in the 1999s, the publication examines the population shifts in the former Soviet region, the Kurdish exodus from northern Iraq following the Gulf war, the increasingly restrictive asylum policies in Europe and North America, and the recent crises in the Balkans, the Great Lakes region of Africa, East Timor, and the Caucasus.
In this timely and important publication, UNHCR emphasises the need to find lasting solutions to problems of forced migrants.
To get your copy of the State of the World’s Refugees please contact:
Public Information Unit,
UNHCR,
6, pereulok Obukha, Moscow 103064, Russian Federation
Fax: (095) 232 30 17,
Tel. (095) 234 00 34/ 232 69 67
e-mail rusmo@unhr.ch
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On the initiative of the Agency of Social Information and "Radio of Russia" a round table on the current situation of refugees from non-CIS countries was held on 23 January 2001 on the premises of the UNHCR implementing partner, the "Equilibre-Solidarity" NGO and the Refugees Reception Center. It was well attended by representatives of governmental agencies and local organizations, as well as local media.
The problems which refugees and non-CIS asylum seekers currently
residing in Russia are facing and possible solutions were
discussed at this round-table. J.P.Cavalieri, Head of the Protection Unit, and
Jamal Zamum, head of the Refugee Reception Unit, made presentations on behalf
of UNHCR. They briefed the participants of the meeting on the international
legal documents related to the refugee problem world-wide, gave an analysis
of the current situation in Russia with regard to the persons of concern to
UNHCR and informed them about UNHCR activities in the field of the legal protection
of refugees. They also drew attention of the participants to the plight of Afghan
orphans who have been in the legal limbo on the territory of the Russian Federation
for the last several years.
After the discussion journalists were offered to interview the leaders of communities from Afghanistan and some African countries. They also visited the UNHCR Refugee Reception Centre and the non-governmental organization "Equilibre-Solidarity" which is a UNHCR implementing partner for the assistance programme for refugees and non-CIS asylum seekers. The information materials jointly prepared by the Agency for Social Information and UNHCR were disseminated among the participants. The summary of the discussion and the above-mentioned information were placed at the web site of the Agency for Social Information.
