North Caucasus: Urus-Martan next?

Yesterday (Monday), a total of 1,115 people arrived in Ingushetia from Chechnya, while 446 went in the opposite direction (from Ingushetia to Chechnya). The "Kavkaz-1" border crossing was open for a two-hour period yesterday, beginning at noon. Of yesterday's arrivals, 500 came from the Urus-Martan district, south of Grozny, where they said military activities had started over the weekend.

We had reports on Friday of people leaving that region after Chechen fighters had arrived in the area and warned the population that the fighting would start soon.

The Ingush Migration Service reported that on 5 February (Saturday), 1,163 people arrived in Ingushetia from Chechnya, while 200 people moved to Chechnya from Ingushetia via the crossing point "Kavkaz-1."

UNHCR's 29th relief convoy arrived this morning in Nazran, Ingushetia, after an overnight journey from our base in Stavropol, southern Russia. The 17 trucks delivered 92.4 MT of food (wheat flour and peas), 2,987 mattresses, 708 beds and 9,281 blankets. In addition to UNHCR vehicles, three Danish Refugee Council trucks brought 4,224 winter jackets; one MSF truck brought medicine; one Salvation Army truck brought medicine and baby food; four trucks from Action Against Hunger brought food; and four UNICEF trucks brought hygienic kits.