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United Nations Population Fund |
| Special mission
to formulate population strategy A special UNFPA Project Mission visited Russia in February this year. The group included Mr.Richard Osborn, UNFPA expert in reproductive health issues (team leader); Mr.Robert Thomson, WHO expert on information, education, communication and advocacy aspects; Dr. Gayane Dolyan, WHO expert on reproductive health. Their aim was to discuss and formulate a strategic framework for population and development assistance, as well as concrete project proposals for UNFPA's consideration in the following areas: (1) reproductive health policy; (2) training of service providers and decision-makers in management and reproductive health technology; 3)adolescent reproductive health; (4) IEC and advocacy in the field of reproductive health and reproductive rights. During their stay in Moscow, they conducted working meetings with national experts, government authorities, non-government agencies, and donor organisations.
Training aids for medical centres Fifteen regional centres in Russia were provided with training aids at the request of the Russian Health Ministry within the UNFPA umbrella project. The aids will be used to help train medical-service providers in the fields of reproductive health, maternal and infant care, obstetrics and gynaecology. |
Teen leaders to
teach peers In January, the Russian Family Planning Association began to implement the "Adolescents Peer Education" project approved by UNFPA headquarters. The project's aim is to select leaders among teenagers to provide them with relevant training in the fields of family planning, reproductive health and the prevention of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases. Manuals and audiovisual aids covering these topics will be prepared and published for examination by teens and their parents. The $320,000 project is fully financed by the UNFPA. Aid to migrants and refugees Recently the UNFPA Moscow office purchased and supplied family planning centres in the Stavropol Krai with first-aid medicine, medical equipment and contraceptives to improve reproductive health and support HIV/AIDS prevention measures among migrants and internally displaced persons in the area.
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United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees |
| UN inter-agency
assessment missions The UN Country Team continued to address the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Russia brought about by persistent economic difficulties. The situation has resulted in severe hardship for broad sectors of the Russian population, particularly those living in some of the remote regions of the country. Following discussions with the RF Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the RF Government Commission for Humanitarian Assistance, it was decided that UN attention and assistance would focus on several key regions: Altai Krai, the Republic of Tyva, the Sakha-Yakutia Republic, Kamchatka and the North Caucasus. On 16 January, 1999 a first inter-agency assessment mission visited Altai Krai and Tyva. UNHCR participated in the visit to Altai in view of the relatively large number of migrants (some 40,000), particularly from Kazakhstan. It was concluded that, whereas humanitarian needs for the general population in Altai were not acute, assistance was required for the migrant community. UNHCR together with IOM will seek to address these needs. On the other hand, the situation in the Tyva Republic was found to be abysmal with broad sectors of the population suffering from severe health deficiencies. The problems in this republic will be addressed by UNDP, UNICEF and WHO working in coordination with each other. UNHCR 1999 Appeal On 25 January a meeting was convened at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Center to present UNHCR's proposed activities for 1999 and its funding requirements. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) also participated and presented its own funding requirements. The meeting was attended by both the media and members of the donor community. Presentations were made by officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Federal Migration Service and the Representatives of both UNHCR and IOM. UNHCR is seeking US $ 13,4 million for its activities in Russia in 1999. |
Micro-credit
for migrant entrepreneurs In 1998 UNHCR disbursed among migrants in Russia a total of US $ 500,000 in loans to start small businesses in such sectors as manufacturing, services, retail, transport, trade and agriculture. The funds were provided under an agreement between UNHCR and Opportunity International Russia, which envisages the financing of a three-year programme to create and support local agencies in developing micro-enterprises in such regions as Saratov, Voronezh, Novgorod and Rostov. The agencies will provide credit, training and legal advice. It is expected that these local agencies will reach financial sustainability by the time UNHCR's and Opportunity International's involvement comes to an end. In the Saratov region, 55 percent of loans are extended to migrants while 45 percent are made for the benefit of the local population in order to avoid any tensions between the two. In the Voronezh and Rostov regions the ratio is different - correspondingly 70 percent and 30 percent respectively. The majority of the 125,000 plus migrants in the Saratov region are professionals with their families coming from Uzbekistan, Chechnya and Azerbaijzhan. |
| UNHCR in the Stavropol area | |
| In the Stavropol krai, some 60,000 persons are
registered as migrants and refugees, some 40,000 of them are from Chechnya. Many of the
displaced persons from Chechnya belong to the Russian-speaking origin who are unable to
return home. UNHCR spent US$ 1,5 million to assist these persons in 1998. Most of this
amount was allocated for water and gas-supply projects in villages inhabited by migrants
and internally displaced persons, the rehabilitation of heating, water and sanitation in
hostels for the elderly and in schools which have a considerable number of displaced
children. As part of its income-generating activities in the Stavropol Krai, UNHCR allocated over USD 83,000 in loans for animal breeding, agriculture and trade. The Pyatigorsk Resource Center came into full operation in December 1998. The Center was set up to strengthen the capacity of NGOs, to undertake counselling activities and to assess the viability of NGO projects.
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Paolo Foradori, UNHCR Moscow staff member, presents toys, drawing material and other items to children at a kindergarten in Plagaida village near Stavropol |
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Rows of beehives bought by UNHCR for migrants to help them to start small business of honey production |
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United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees |
Mr. Christopher J.
Carpenter tel. (095) 232-30-11 (095) 232-30-12
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UNHCR Sub-Office in Vladikavkaz Ms. Galina Sokhieva
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UNHCR Field Office in Stavropol Mr. Vladimir Gorokhov tel. (8652) 27-06-96 (8652) 27-06-86 (8652)27-11-26
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UNHCR Office in St. Petersburg Mr. Tore Borresen 1, Artilleriyskaya ul. 191104 St. Petersburg the Russian Federation
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