Ingushetia: no significant increase in arrivals from Chechnya

UNHCR staff in Ingushetia have not seen significant increases in numbers of people arriving from Chechnya in recent days, despite rumours of large numbers of people on the move from towns in Chechnya near Ingushetia. Only around 170 people arrived from July 7 to 9. On Thursday last week, some 750 people, most of them men, crossed into Ingushetia. Since then, however, movements into Ingushetia have not been out of the ordinary, with smaller numbers of people crossing each day. Rumours of upwards of 20,000 people potentially headed to Ingushetia were cited following reported "mop up" operations by Russian federal forces in the area, and the subsequent resignation of local administration heads of Sernovodsk and Assinovskaya.

UNHCR has contingency provisions in place, should there be a larger influx, with tents and other supplies in stock in Ingushetia. There are over 150,000 displaced persons from Chechnya in Ingushetia. Some 70% are staying with host families, with the remainder in tent camps or other settlements.