UN Plans To Raise $32 Mln In Humanitarian Aid To Chechnya

The United Nations is planning to raise 32 million dollars in humanitarian aid for Chechnya and the republic's 600,000 inhabitants in 2002. This was disclosed at a press-conference by Rosemary McCreery, the interim UN humanitarian coordinator, in Moscow on Tuesday. She stressed that the activity of the UN in the North Caucasus was part of the humanitarian programme, which the Russian government is already carrying out. McCreery stated that, 7 different UN agencies intend to work there in areas like the distribution of foodstuffs, medical aid, education and assistance in rebuilding the economy. According to her, the question of opening an UN office in the capital of Grozny is being considered.