Moscow, 13 February 2007 - The European
Union has launched a new programme for recovery
and development for Northern Caucasus designed in
close cooperation with Russian federal and
regional authorities. Out of 20 mln euro allocated
for the programme, 12.7 mln euro will go to health
and education projects in the Republics of
Chechnya and Ingushetia. UN Children's Fund
(UNICEF) and World Health Organisation (WHO) have
been implementing these projects since September
2006. Official presentation of the health and
education component will take place in Grozny on
15 February, 2007.
The European Commission, UNICEF and WHO have
actively cooperated in the humanitarian assistance
area in the Republic of Chechnya for several
years. The new programme marks a transition from
purely humanitarian assistance to development
programmes. Ministries of Health and Education of
Republics of Chechnya and Ingushetia, as well as
the Office of the President Plenipotentiary in the
Southern Federal Okrug have taken an active part
in developing the programme and are now involved
in its implementation.
In the health sector, about 3000 health
staff from the Ministry of Health of Chechnya,
doctors and nurses will take part in vocational
trainings. Five health information and learning
centres for medical personnel will be established
in Chechnya and will be supplied with training
materials, audio-visual aids and medical
literature. Under the programme, essential medical
equipment, consumables and specialized ambulances
will be delivered to the Republican Children's
Hospital and Maternity Hospital No 2 in Grozny.
Repair and maintenance facility of the Ministry of
Health of Chechnya will be equipped, and its staff
will be trained.
In education sector, 2000 school
teachers, context specialists, staff from the
Ministry of Education of Chechnya and from the
Teachers’ Re-training Institute will attend
professional trainings. Sixty two classrooms for
physics, chemistry, foreign languages, biology,
mathematics and geography will be set up and
equipped at local schools.
Another component of the 20 mln euro programme
aimed to support income generation
activities in the Republics of Chechnya,
Ingushetia and North Ossetia is under
preparation.
Presentation of the health and education
projects under the new programme will take place
on 15 February at 10h30 at Taganka Restaurant
(Grozny). Representatives of the regional and
federal authorities, as well as of the European
Commission, WHO and UNICEF will take part in the
event.
For more information, please,
contact Bela Tsugaeva, Communication Assistant,
UNICEF North Caucasus, tel. (8928) 732 07 12,
e-mail: btsugaeva@unicef.org
or
Irina Tarakanova, Administrative Assistant, WHO
North Caucasus,
tel. (495) 787 21 12, e-mail: i.tarakanova@who.org.ru
Background information:
The European Commission through its
Humanitarian Aid department has been providing
humanitarian assistance in the Northern Caucasus
since 1999. Since that time the total aid for the
whole region has reached 200 million euro making
the European Union the largest donor in the
region. At present, more than 80% of the
humanitarian aid goes to Chechnya covering food
provision, health sector, water and sanitation,
construction of shelter for internally displaced
persons, as well as psychosocial projects. United
Nations agencies, including UNICEF and WHO, are
among the Commission's key implementing partners
in the field. |
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