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UNDSS Mission Statement

The Department of Safety and Security is responsible for providing leadership, operational support and oversight of the security management system to enable the safest and most efficient conduct of the programmes and activities of the United Nations System.

In January 2000, the Office of the United Nations Security Coordinator (UNSECOORD) established its presence in the Russian Federation to provide support to the UN Designated Official and the Security Management Team, by developing, managing and coordinating systems, practices, policies and procedures that are necessary for the safety and security of UN staff and property. On 23 December 2004, as part of a broad review of security, The General Assembly, in its Resolution 59/276, approved the establishment of the Department of Safety and Security. This new organization includes a number of security offices throughout the United Nations including the former UNSECOORD, the Safety and Security Services (SSS) in New York, and all offices away from headquarters, and the civilian security component for the Department of Peace-Keeping Operations. On 13 January 2005, the Secretary General appointed Mr. David Veness to Head the Department of Safety and Security at the Under-Secretary-General level.

In the Russian Federation, UNDSS maintains an office in Moscow, and sub-offices in the North Caucasus at Nazran (Republic of Ingushetia) and Vladikavkaz (Republic of North Ossetia-Alania).

The primary geographic area of concern within the Russian Federation with respect to UN security is the North Caucasus. The security situation in the North Caucasus in 2004 continued to be extremely dangerous and complex, requiring one of the most stringent security regimes to be applied anywhere in the world by the UN for the safety and security of its staff. Last year (2004) saw an escalation in the level of militant activity and security operations, especially in the Republic of Ingushetia.

The UN presence in the region increased in 2004 and its geographic area of programme delivery and implementation is increasingly focused in Chechnya. Now there are seven UN agencies (based in Nazran and Vladikavkaz) providing humanitarian assistance in the North Caucasus region as well as other UN staff members working there while on temporary mission. The ICRC and approximately forty local and international NGOs are also present in the region. The current risk to aid workers in the region is assessed as being derived from three main sources of threat: kidnapping and abduction; targeting by militants and criminal gangs; and mines and unexploded ordnance.

Another significant issue of concern is that humanitarian aid workers, including UN staff members, may be caught ‘at the wrong place at the wrong time’ while undertaking their humanitarian activity and thus become an accidental victim of an incident. The likelihood of this occurrence has increased exponentially since late 2002 when militants increased their tactical use of landmines and re-introduced suicide bombing attacks against military and government installations as well as at public locations and events.

To provide a relatively safe living environment for UN staff working in the North Caucasus, UNDSS has introduced, and continues to apply, stringent preventive security strategies. The UN offices and international staff member private accommodation are equipped with modern security technologies. UNDSS maintains 24 hour operational radio rooms in Nazran and Vladikavkaz that offer communications support to UN and humanitarian aid workers in the region. Regular liaison and close contact between UNDSS and local law enforcement, militia and security officials has further supported the UN and its partners’ ability to move around the region safely. All staff safety and security measures coordinated or implemented by UNDSS in the region are funded by donor contributions.

The role of UNDSS extends beyond security coordination and management. UNDSS has become a security focal point for the wider humanitarian community in the Russian Federation by providing security information, guidance, training, support and advice. It disseminates threat assessments; incident summaries and statistics; trend analysis; security and travel advisories and media monitoring of incidents in the North Caucasus. It also facilitates a number of staff safety and security training initiatives including first-aid, stress counseling and various security awareness topics which are all made available to the UN and wider humanitarian aid community at no cost to the participant.

UNDSS’s current three international professional Security Coordination Officers in the Russian Federation, (one for Russian Federation as a whole and two others for the North Caucasus), are supported by a team of locally recruited Security Assistants, Transport Coordinators, Radio Operators and other support staff.

While the primary responsibility for the safety and security of UN and humanitarian aid workers rests with the host government, UNDSS contributes to creating a secure environment for the humanitarian community by:

· Acting as the UN’s primary liaison with the Russian Government on staff safety and security matters;

· Managing the UN’s staff safety and security system, including preparing security and contingency plans and coordinating staff safety programmes including the Warden system;

· Supervising the various organisations that provide armed static and mobile security escort services;

· Providing personalised security training for UN staff and partners;

· Conducting security, threat and risk assessments and vulnerability reviews;

· Providing security briefings and specialised security advice to the UN and humanitarian aid communities;

· Coordinating medical evacuation arrangements and facilitating first-aid training and stress counselling;

· Organising security escorts for assessments, programme implementation, monitoring and special missions and visits;

· Providing transport coordination services;

· Providing incident analysis and database management; and

· Managing the UN’s radio communications network.

UNDSS addresses and contact details in the Russian Federation

Moscow

Address: Obukha Per, 6. Moscow, 103064

Tel: +7 (495) 231-3307

Fax: +7(495) 231-3308

Kovvuri C. Reddy, Chief Security Adviser for the RF/ Head of UNDSS RF

Moussa Arsabiev, Local Security Associate

Alan Kaloyev, Administrative Associate

Olga Komarova, Database Coordinator

Nazran (Republic of Ingushetia)

Address: 28, Naberezhnaya Street, (Targim), Nazran, 386101

Tel: +7 (8732) 22-15-37; + 7 (8732) 28-05-26;

Fax: +7 (8732) 22-15-37

Zoltan Biro, Field Security Coordination Officer (for the North Caucasus)

Ruslan Elmurzaev, Local Security Assistant

Khamzat Yasaev, Local Security Assistantt

Ibragim Isaev, Local Security Assistant

Radio Room in Nazran Tel: +7 (8732) 22-15-37; + 7 (8732) 28-05-26;

Vladikavkaz (Republic of North Ossetia-Alania)

Address: 5, Stanislavskogo Street, Vladikavkaz, 362040

Tel: +7 (8672) 54-60-95; +7 (8672) 54-60-96;

Fax: +7 (8672) 54-60-97

Ian Miller, Field Security Coordination Officer

Vladimir Petrov, Local Security Assistant

Maxim Kamarzaev, Local Security Assistant

Radio Room in Vladikavkaz Tel: +7 (8672) 54-60-95; +7 (8672) 54-60-96;