RUSSIA HOSTAGE CRISIS IN BESLAN, NORTH OSSETIA

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1 RUSSIA HOSTAGE CRISIS IN BESLAN, NORTH OSSETIA Appeal no. 19/ September 2004 The Federation s mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world s largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 181 countries. In Brief THIS EMERGENCY APPEAL SEEKS CHF 864,844 (USD 680,000 / EUR 563,000) IN CASH, KIND, OR SERVICES TO ASSIST 2,000 BENEFICIARIES FOR 12 MONTHS (click here to go directly to the attached Appeal budget) All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for a full description of the national society profile, ple ase access the Federation s website at For further information specifically related to this operation please contact: Russian Red Cross: Phone ; Fax ; mail@redcross.ru Russia Delegation: Phone ; Fax ; Moscow@ifrc.org Miro Modrusan, Desk officer, Geneva Federation Secretariat. Phone ; Fax ; miro.modrusan@ifrc.org For longer-term programmes, please refer to the Federation s Annual Appeal: <click here for annual appeal for Russia> In order to make a donation for this appeal, please go directly to the Federation s online donation webpage at Situation Russia is in mourning for the 336 people killed during a siege at a school in Beslan, a town in the Southern Republic of North Ossetia. On 1 September, masked armed fighters stormed the school taking over 1,000 children,

2 2 their relatives and teachers hostage. The siege ended in carnage last Friday, when bombs rigged up inside the school exploded, collapsing part of a roof, prompting Russian special forces to move in. Over 400 people remain injured in hospitals in Beslan and neighbouring towns. 17 of the most injured, including 11 children, have been transferred to Moscow. Official figures put the death toll at 336. However, with up to 200 people still unaccounted it is feared that this figure could rise. Some children in hospital are too young or traumatised to identify themselves. Many bodies lie unrecognisable in hospital morgues, disfigured by the explosions. While funerals for 24 of the dead took place in Beslan yesterday (Sunday), 150 more graves were being prepared. Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared two days of national mourning. Family relatives had been at the school celebrating the first day of the new term when the hostage takers took over the complex at approximately 9.30am local time. Red Cross action On 4 September Russian Red Cross launched a national and international appeal for immediate assistance, mainly heavy medical equipment for the severely stretched hospitals in the Beslan area. Russian Red Cross staff and volunteers in branches in Beslan headed by the chief doctor of the central district hospital for Beslan and Vladikavkaz remain actively involved in providing assistance to those affected by the tragedy. 15 volunteers (students of the local medical college) from Vladikavkaz branch and the Vice President and Secretary General of Russian Red Cross distributed hot food and drink to the hostages families gathered around the school until the crisis escalated on Friday and shooting started. This team then helped assist hostages escaping the building, directing them to hospitals. Russian Red Cross psychologists and 19 visiting nurses are also working side by side with Ministry of Emergencies staff to provide support to the hostages and their families. Russian Red Cross has also mobilised 60 of its visiting nurses, who are currently positioned in small towns near to Beslan and the surrounding area. On 2 September the Russian Red Cross Vice President Raisa Lukhutsova and Secretary General Erik Prazdnikov flew to Beslan on a special Emercom (Ministry of Emergency situations) flight to assess the situation. They have now returned to Moscow to coordinate further Russian Red Cross assistance. At the headquarters level, an operational team has been working day and night collecting donations from the public through two specially set up bank accounts and manning a 24 hour information telephone hot line. ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) medical and surgical supplies have been transferred to hospitals in Beslan and the nearby town of Vladikavkaz. This is in response to a direct request for provision of medical equipment to Russian Red Cross from a representative of the Ministry of Health in North Ossetia, Soplevenko. ICRC staff based in Nalchik are on the scene and assisted in transferring wounded people from the school to hospitals. The ICRC are visiting hospitals in the region to assess any ongoing needs. They are planning to provide transportation to and from hospitals for families of the wounded, particularly those in hospitals outside Beslan. They also intend to assist in tracing and identification of missing and unidentified people. The Russian and international public have come forward with cash and in-kind donations over the weekend. Piles of toys, bed linen and sweets are crowding the entrance at Russian Red Cross headquarters. According to the Prime Minister, Mr Fradkov, all humanitarian aid from abroad will be channelled through EMERCOM (Russian Ministry of Emergencies) and will be given a green corridor when passing customs clearance. Russian Red Cross has also appealed to the general public to donate blood in response to the hostage crisis and victims of the metro bombing in

3 3 Moscow last week, which killed 10 people. A Moscow company Flycards has offered its services to produce and distribute postcards throughout the Moscow region with details of the Russian Red Cross appeals for donations and free blood donation. 15 regional Russian Red Cross branches have transferred 100,000 RUR (Russian roubles; USD3,420) and Belgorod Red Cross branch has transferred blood substitute to the value of 100,000 RUR (USD3,420) to the North Ossetia Red Cross headquarters. 56 Russian Red Cross branches have provided unspecified support to the local Red Cross branch in Beslan. The International Federation has released CHF 50,000 (USD39,300) from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to contribute towards the cost of purchasing and transporting necessary items to the region, as well as to support the psychological counselling of the victims. Funds are needed to repay the DREF. Russian Red Cross is actively cooperating with the media to promote its activities and raise awareness of the needs. Proposed Operation Objectives and activities planned to reach the objectives w 1. Addressing the emergency and long-term medical needs of the affected population in Beslan region as an auxiliary to existing health services 2. Alleviating post traumatic stress experienced by people taken as hostages, their family and friends at psychological/ rehabilitation centres and during outreach work, and alleviating professional burnout experienced by psychologists and helpers working with victims of the hostage crisis through provision of an expert consultant 3. Supporting rehabilitation of people physically affected by the hostage crisis through a strengthened and expanded visiting nurses network providing professional home care 4. Assisting children with physical disabilities as a result of the hostage crisis through individual support and group activities 5. Facilitating post traumatic recovery of affected families through treatment at specialised health facilities (sanatorium) Target beneficiary group: children and adults belonging to the following groups: hostages; hostages physically disadvantaged as a result of the crisis; families and friends of hostages Beneficiaries: 2000 In the short term, hospitals treating people affected by the hostage crisis in Beslan still require specific medical equipment. These needs are predominantly being met by Russian Ministry of Health, and ICRC representatives are currently conducting a further needs assessment in hospitals in the region. To support hospitals in the immediate future, Russian Red Cross will also purchase and transport an artificial lung ventilation system for Beslan hospital. In the longer term, Russian Red Cross intends to ensure adequate capacity of local hospitals to meet the physiotherapeutic needs of hostages injured during the siege. This will be done through provision of specialist equipment to hospital physiotherapy units, following an assessment of needs conducted in cooperation with the hospital staff. Russian Red Cross also anticipates the need for immediate and long term psychological support, to the psychologists already working on the scene, hostages, including those physically disabled as a result of the siege, their family and friends. In the short term, Russian Red Cross will provide counselling for psychologists working with the affected population to prevent professional burn out. This will be done through recruitment of a specialist consultant/ delegate.

4 4 To meet the long term needs of the population struggling to come to terms with the events of the past week, Russian Red Cross plans to establish two rehabilitation centres. Each centre will consist of four rooms accommodating the following activities psychosocial support; physiotherapy; fitness training; youth/ internet club and library. These centres, managed by Russian Red Cross headquarters via the local Vladikavkaz branch, will act as a base for outreach teams of Russian Red Cross visiting nurses specialising in psychological support and medical care. Through provision of group and individual consultations for families, children and adults at the centre, at schools, and at other locations, Russian Red Cross visiting nurses/ psychologists will focus on reducing stress and fear among the target group. Visiting nurses specialising in medical care will work side by side with the nurses/psychologists, visiting people at home and providing traditional care to the population physically affected by the hostage crisis. The centre will also act as a social club/ meeting place for the children of Beslan. Russian Red Cross will create a book library, an internet club, and a fitness club to stimulate children and encourage positive behaviour. Furthermore, computers at home with internet connection will be provided to 10 children physically disabled/ bedridden as a result of the siege, to allow them to communicate with friends and maintain contact with and awareness of the outside world. Russian Red Cross will use experience gained through other socio-psychological counselling programmes operating across the Russian Federation to encourage people to use the services on offer. A media and information campaign will play a major role in spreading awareness of the Red Cross services and the benefits of psychological support within a society where this kind of assistance is not widely used. Finally, to address further medical needs of children and their family member, Red Cross will fund places for groups of 300 families (2 people per group) for a period of 21 days per place at specialist medical sanatoria, offering medical care for people affected during the siege in an area far removed from the location of the siege. Through implementation of all these activities, the Russian Red Cross will strengthen its capacity in the region, and the capacity of the visiting nurses network.

5 ANNEX 1 BUDGET SUMMARY APPEAL No. 19/2004 Russian Federation: Hostage crisis in Beslan, North Ossetia TYPE RELIEF NEEDS VALUE IN CHF Medical & first aid 68,000 Teaching materials 8,000 Other supplies (sanatorium) 390,000 TOTAL RELIEF NEEDS 466,000 CAPITAL EQUIPMENT Computers & telecom. equipment 6,000 PROGRAMME SUPPORT Programme support (6.5% of total) 56,215 TRANSPORT STORAGE & VEHICLE COSTS Transport and storage 7,600 Vehicle costs 3,600 PERSONNEL Expatriate staff 41,100 National staff 147,040 Workshops and training 12,560 ADMINISTRATIVE & GENERAL SERVICES Travel & related expenses 8,100 Information expenses 10,000 Administrative & general expenses 106,629 TOTAL OPERATIONAL NEEDS 398,844 TOTAL APPEAL CASH, KIND, SERVICES 864,844 LESS AVAILABLE RESOURCES (-) 0 NET REQUEST 864,844